FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOU5S    FITZGERALD    BENSON,  D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED   BY  HIM  TO 

THE  LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


REV.     JOH  N     M  V  R  R  A  V. 
First  Pastor,   1774-1793 


UNIVE 


—  IN  — 


GLOUCESTER,  MASS. 


AN     HISTORICAL     DISCOURSE 

—  ON   THE  — 

One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  first  Sermon  of 
Rev.  John  Murray  in  that  Town.      Delivered 
IN  the   Independent  Christian   Church,      , 
November  3,  1874, 


// 


BY 

RICHARD  EDDY,  D.D.,  then  Pastor  of  the  Church. 


WITH   addresses   ON   THE   SAME   OCCASION, 
NOTES   AND   APPENDIX. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


GLOUCESTER,      MASS 

PROCTER  BROTHERS. 
1892. 


Copyrighted,  1892,  by  Richard  Eddy,  D.  D. 


>STANDAI^C. 
f  KJNTINa 
COMPANY 
.      PROVIDENCE, 


Introduction, 


Delay  in  the  publication  of  this  volume  has  given 
opportunity  to  discover  and  utilize  several  important 
documents  which  were  not  available  at  the  time  of 
delivering  the  Historical  Discourse.  Except  in  one 
particular,  explained  in  foot  note  46,  the  text  of  the 
Discourse  is  unchanged.  Added  matter  is  thrown 
into  the  Appendix.  The  author  has  aimed  at  accu- 
racy in  the  presentation  of  facts,  and  believes  that 
he  has  succeeded  in  giving  reliable  statements.  In 
what  might  possibly  be  disputed,  care  has  been  taken 
to  give  the  original  documents  or  other  acknowledged 
authority. 

The  illustrations,  done  in  the  best  Albertype  style, 
add  greatly  to  the  value  of  the  book.  They  are  all 
made  from  authentic  originals,  the  portrait  of  Rev. 
John  Murray  being  from  an  oil  painting  made  in 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  in  1784,  the  only  portrait  for 
which  Mr.  Murray  ever  gave  a  sitting.  The  original 
painting  is  now  owned  by  the  Tufts  Divinity  School^ 
Tufts  College.  All  references  in  the  Discourse  to 
the  Life  of  Murray,  are  to  the  edition  of  1869. 

R.    E. 

Providence,  R.  I.,  May,  1892. 


iv  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Illustrations. 


PAGE. 

Portrait  of  Rev.  John  Murray Frontispiece. 

The  First  Meeting  House 9 

Portrait  of  Rev.  Thomas  Jones 25 

The  Present  Church  Edifice 4i 

Portrait  of  Rev.  Daniel  D.  Smith 57 

Portrait  of  Rev.  Frederic  F.  Thayer 73 

Portrait  of  Rev.  Henry  B.  Soule 89 

Portrait  of  Rev.  Amory  D.  Mayo io5 

Portrait  of  Rev.  W.  R.  G.  Mellen 121 

Portrait  of  Rev.  George  W.  Skinner i37 

Portrait  of  Ehner  H.  Capen,  D.  D i53 

Portrait  of  Richard  Eddy,  D.  D 169 

Portrait  of  Rev.  Costello  Weston 185 

Portrait  of  Rev.  William  H.  Rider 201 


CONTENTS. 


Contents. 


PAGE. 
I. 

Programme   of   Exercises vi 

II. 

Historical  Discourse 9 

III. 
Evening  Services  : 

Addresses  of  Rev.  Thomas  G.  Farnsworth,  Rev.  Frederic 
F.  Thayer,  Rev.  Amory  D.  Mayo,  Rev.  Joseph  P.  Atkinson, 
Benjamin  H.  Corliss,  Esq.,  Rev.  James  U.  Mitchell,  Letters 

of  Rev.  W.  R.  G.  Mellen,  Rev.  E.  H.  Capen 79 

IV. 

Appendix. 

A.  Letter  to  Rev.  Eli  Forbes 105 

B.  Mr.  Murray  before  the  Committee  of  Safety 107 

C.  Action  of  the  First  Parish  Church 11 1 

D.  Ministerial    Helpers 118 

E.  The  Relly  Hymn  Book 129 

F.  Suit  against  the  First  Parish 130 

G.  An  Appeal  to  the  Impartial  Public 133 

H.     Answer  to  "  An  Appeal " 157 

I.     Mr.  Murray's  Broadside 177 

J.     The  Charter  of  Compact 185 

K.     Mrs.  Judith  Murray 189 

L.     Mr.  Murray's  Ordination,  Christmas,    1788 191 

M.     Agreement  to  be  taxed  for  support  of  Mr.  Murray. . . .  194 

N.     The  Request  from  Boston 195 

O.     The  Act  of  Incorporation 198 

P.     Mr.  Murray's  Commendation  of  Mr.  Jones 200 

Q.     Subscribers  to  the  New  Meeting  House 202 

R.     Laying  of  the  Corner  Stone 203 

S.     The  New  Hymn  Book 204 

T.     Dedication  of  Children 205 

U.     The  Church  Organization 208 

V.     Funeral  of  Rev.  John  Murray 215 

W.    The  Sunday  School 221 

X.     The  Semi-Centennial 222 

Y.     Titles  of  the  Organization  and  Officers  of  the  Church 

and  Society 225 

Z.     Addenda 232 

V. 

Index 235 


VI  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY. 


IJJ4.  November  Third,  ^8^4. 


OF  THE 

First  Preaching  of  Rev.  John  Murray 

IN     QLOUCKSTKR. 


VOLUNTARY. 

INVOCATION  AND  SCRIPTURE  READING. 

Rev.  William  Hooper,  of  Annisquam. 

HYMN. 
Written  for  the  occasion  by  James  Davis,  Esq. 

Dear  Father !  while  we  here  attend 

This  glad  memorial  of  Thy  love, 
Thy  gracious  benediction  lend, 

And  breathe  Thy  spirit  from  above. 

We  thank  Thee  for  the  cheering  voice 

That  here,  a  century  ago, 
Made  heavy  laden  souls  rejoice. 

Thy  blessed  Gospel  truths  to  know. 

How  sweet  the  words  of  hope  it  spoke 

Of  life  through  all-abounding  grace! 
How  broad  and  strong  the  faith  it  woke, 

That  ripened  into  deeds  apace ! 


CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY.  Vll 

The  harvest  sown  we  gladly  reap, 

While  in  this  joyful  faith  we  rest, 
And  here  our  festal  Sabbaths  keep, 

With  peace  and  Christian  freedom  blest. 


May  this  glad  faith  —  this  sacred  peace 
To  all  the  sons  of  men  be  given, 

That  wrath,  and  doubt,  and  strife  may  cease, 
And  perfect  love  make  perfect  heaven. 


PRAYER. 
Rev.  Thomas  G.  Farnsworth,  of  Waltham. 

HYMN. 
Written  for  the  occasion  by  Henry  C.  L.  Haskell. 


These  same  gray  headlands  faced  the  tide, 
'Neath  later  Autumn's  glow,  — 

On  these  same  sands  the  billows  died. 
An  hundred  years  ago,  — 

When  Murray  trod  this  rocky  shore 

To  point  the  way  above. 
And  tell  the  glorious  story  o'er. 

Of  God's  far-reaching  love. 

From  seeds  of  truth  by  Murray  sown, 
'Mid  mingled  hopes  and  fears, 

A  strong  and  sturdy  vine  has  grown, 
Through  all  this  hundred  years. 

And  we,  to-day,  our  voices  raise 
To  Heaven's  eternal  throne, — 

Our  heartfelt  words  of  prayer  and  praise 
For  many  mercies  shown. 

Lord,  keep  us  in  the  grand  old  faith, 
Where'er  our  paths  may  be,  — 

The  faith  that  leads,  in  life  or  death, 
To  glory  and  to  Thee. 


viii  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY. 

HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 
By  Rev.  Richard  Eddy,  Pastor. 

HYMN. 
Written  for  the  occasion  by  Miss  Sarah  G.  Duley. 


The  years  so  swiftly  gliding, 

A  century's  sum  have  told, 
Since,  bringing  precious  tidings, 

The  shepherd  sought  this  fold ; 
Since'to  the  people  dwelling 

Upon  this  storm-beat  shore, 
He  came,  the  good  news  telling 

That  fear's  long  night  was  o'er. 


They  heard  with  joy  the  story 

Of  God's  abounding  love. 
With  glad  eyes  saw  the  glory 

Irradiate  from  above. 
How  bright  became  death's  portal. 

Robbed  of  its  dreadful  fear, 
A  path  to  life  immortal, 

A  loving  father  near. 

In  childlike  faith  abiding, 

He  wrought  his  work  below, — 
Dear  Lord,  in  Thee  confiding, 

May  we  such  fervor  know. 
O,  sainted  Murray,  resting 

In  heavenly  realms,  to-day. 
May  we,  thy  worth  attesting, 

Walk  steadfast  in  the  way. 


BENEDICTION. 


i-U 

< 

C 

% 

^ 

m 

,  , 

ai. 

H 

X 

: ) 

W 

Q 

w 

,_ 

— 

<-. 

< 

u 

H 

~ 

■s. 

Iv 

Historical  Discourse. 


Our  fathers  trusted  in  Thee.  —  Psalms  xxii:  4. 
The  Lord  our  God  be  with  us,  as  He  was  with  our  fathers.  —  i  Kings  viii:  57. 

The  father  of  history  declares  at  the  commence- 
ment of  his  immortal  work,  that  he  was  prompted  to 
write  by  his  desire  to  preserve  past  events  from 
oblivion,  and  to  perpetuate  the  just  renown  which 
belonged  to  men  of  departed  generations.^  Not 
unmindful  of  these  motives,  we  confess  that  still 
higher  ones  prompt  and  animate  us  in  meeting  here 
to-day  to  commemorate  the  scenes  and  actors  of  a 
former  century,  and  to  trace  the  progress  of  their 
work  to  the  present  time.  Like  the  Grecian  sage, 
we,  too,  wish  to  rescue  the  past  from  being  forgotten, 
and  to  give  honor  to  whom  honor  is  due ;  but  most 
of  all,  we  would  make  the  occasion  one  of  fresh  con- 
templation of  those  principles  which  our  fathers  cher- 
ished with  a  love  stronger  than  death,  that  we  may 
bring  our  tribute  of  praise  to  the  altar  of  God,  who 
enabled  them  to  establish  here  the  religion  for  which 
they  suffered,  and  the  principles  of  liberty  and  right 
in  the  enjoyment  of  the  dictates  of  conscience,  which 
they  championed  for  all  the  religious  denominations 
in  the  Commonwealth. 

1  Herodotus,  Clio,  §  i. 

9 


10  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

A  hundred  years  have  now  passed  since  there  came 
to  this  town,  then  having  a  scattered  population  of 
Httle  more  than  forty-five  hundred  souls,  a  man  who 
for  four  years  had  been  busily  engaged  in  preaching 
in  the  southern,  middle  and  eastern  colonies  of  the 
country.  He  had  not  placed  himself  in  open,  at 
least  not  in  violent  opposition  to  the  then  prevalent 
theological  opinions,  but  wherever  he  spoke  it  was 
soon  evident  that  he  entertained  more  enlarged 
views  of  the  divine  purpose  than  the  people  had  been 
accustomed  to  hear.  Still  he  made  no  attempt  to 
proselyte,  and  the  thought  of  organizing  a  society  or 
church  in  opposition  to  the  sects  then  established 
had  probably  never  entered  his  mind.  Indeed,  in 
many  places  where  he  preached,  the  legitimate  infer- 
ences from  his  arguments  were  not  clearly  seen 
either  by  the  preachers  or  people  who  flocked  to  hear 
him  ;  and  it  was  felt  on  several  occasions,  that,  like 
Whitefield,  who  had  immediately  preceded  him,  and 
to  whom  in  many  respects  he  bore  a  close  resem- 
blance, he  differed  from  other  preachers  chiefly  in 
the  animation  of  his  style,  and  the  fresh  and  copious 
power  of  his  illustrations.  Nearly  all  the  churches 
of  the  land  were  open  to  him,  and  although  he  sel- 
dom visited  a  place  without  being  involved  in  dis- 
putes with  heresy-hunters,  or  passing  through  the 
ordeal  of  sharp  questioning  by  the  resident  clergy, 
it  was  his  policy  not  to  avow  himself  a  believer  in 
universal  salvation,  in  his  public  discourses,  but  by 
dwelling  with  marked  emphasis  on  the  doctrines  of 
the  "union  of  humanity  with  Christ,  freedom  from 
the  claims  of  the  law,  and  the  finished  salvation 
which  we  have  in  Christ  alone" — points  of  doctrine 
with    which   high   Calvinists   would   heartily  sympa- 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  II 

thize — leave  his  hearers  to  discover  the  results  to 
which  such  doctrines  must  logically  carry  them. 

In  his  autobiography  Mr.  Murray  frankly  states 
that  this  was  his  early  method,  and  he  justified  him- 
self by  supposing  that  "  the  gradual  dawn  of  light 
would  eventually  prove  more  beneficial  to  mankind 
than  the  sudden  burst  of  meridian  day.  Thus,"  he 
says,  ''  I  was  contented  with  proclaiming  the  truth 
as  it  is  in  Jesus,  in  scripture  language  only,  leaving 
to  my  hearers,  deductions,  comments  and  applica- 
tions." ^  The  consequences  of  this  course  were  dis- 
astrous. Many  who  had  gladly  heard  him  became 
shocked  when  they  learned  what  his  real  views  were, 
and  declared  that  he  had  imposed  upon  them,  and 
that  nothing  was  too  bad  to  be  expected  from  a  man 
who  had  practiced  such  concealments.  Some  went 
so  far  as  to  say  that  he  had  made  explicit  denial  of 
his  belief  in  the  salvation  of  all  men;  but  it  is  evi- 
dent that  this  charge  arose  from  misapprehension.^  I 
think  it  sufficient  for  us  to  say  that  although  he  suf- 
fered the  natural  consequences  of  such  a  course,  he 
is  entitled  to  the  credit  of  being  honest  in  his  con- 
victions that  he  was  not  only  doing  no  wrong,  but 
was  rendering  service  to  the  cause  of  truth  by  this 
indirect  way  of  presenting  it. 

The  event  which  we  celebrate  to-day  marks  an 
important  change  in  his  views  of  duty  in  this  respect. 
There  was  a  condition  of  things  in  Gloucester  which 
did  not  exist    elsewhere.     Universalism  was  already 

2  Life  of  Murray,  p.  288. 

3  See  Life  of  Murray,  pp.  400,  401,  where  Mrs.  Murray  shows 
the  distinction  which  her  husband  made  between  Redemption 
and  Salvation,  the  former  being  regarded  by  him  as  universal, 
i.  e.  already  accomplished  for  all,  and  not  the  latter. 


12  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

here,  some  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  the 
town  having  come  to  a  knowledge  and  belief  of  it. 
As  early  as  the  year  in  which  Murray  landed  in 
America,  if  not  a  twelvemonth  or  more  before,  an 
Englishman  by  the  name  of  Gregory  had  visited  this 
place,  bringing  with  him  the  writings  of  Rev.  James 
Relly,  whose  sentiments  Murray  had  espoused  before 
leaving  England.  This  book,  read  by  various  mem- 
bers of  the  Sargent  family,  and  finally  loaned  to 
others,  arrested  attention  and  became  the  topic  of 
discussion  in  domestic  and  social  circles.  Its  doc- 
trines at  first  excited  wonder,  soon  were  received 
with  great  earnestness  as  the  truth,  and  those  who 
thus  received  them  only  needed  the  impulse  of  their 
more  public  proclamation  to  bring  them  forward  as 
a  distinct  body  of  Christians. 

The  occasion  for  this  soon  presented  itself  in  an 
attack  made  upon  Mr.  Murray  in  the  public  papers 
of  Boston,  in  which,  on  the  occasion  of  his  second 
visit  to  that  city  in  September,  1774,  he  was  accused 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Croswell  of  being  "a  preacher  of  Relly's 
doctrine."  The  admirers  of  Relly  in  Gloucester,  see- 
ing this  accusation,  at  once  sent  Mr.  Winthrop  Sar- 
gent as  their  messenger  to  Boston,*  to  solicit  his 
presence  here. 

On  the  3d  of  November,  1774,  he  came,  and  re- 
mained here  nine  days.  The  Deacons  and  Elders  of 
the  First  Parish  waited  upon  him,  conducted  him  to 
the  house  of  their  minister,  Mr.  Chandler,  who  was 
then  ill,  who  consented  to  his  occupying  the  pulpit 
that  evening,  and  on  several  subsequent  occasions. 
''Every  day  and  every  evening,"  Mr.  Murray  says, 
"was  appropriated  to  the  expounding  of  the  Scrip- 
4  October  31st. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  1 3 

tures,  in  the  spacious  and  well-filled  parlor  of  my 
new  and  highly  respectable  friend ;  and  I  had  reason 
to  believe  that  God  most  graciously  crowned  my 
labors  in  this  place,  by  giving  to  some  brighter  views, 
and  inducing  others  to  search  the  Scriptures  for 
themselves.  Every  morning  commenced,  and  every 
day  closed,  with  prayer,  and  with  glad  hearts  we 
delighted  to  hymn  the  praises  of  a  redeeming  God."^ 

On  the  14th  of  December,  Mr.  Murray  again  vis- 
ited Gloucester,  and  finding  that  the  truth  had  taken 
deep  root  in  the  hearts  of  many,  concluded  to  make 
this  his  permanent  home,  although  intending  to  itin- 
erate more  or  less  through  a  large  portion  of  the 
country.  "Here,"  he  writes  in  his  journal,  "my 
God  grants  me  rest  from  my  toils  ;  here  I  have  a 
taste  of  heaven.  The  new  song  is  sung  here,  and 
Worthy  is  the  Lamb  constantly  dwells  upon  their 
tongues."^ 

The  Meeting  House  of  the  First  Parish  was  open 
for  him  again,  but  only  for  a  brief  period,  the  doors 
being  closed  against  him  sometime' during  the  follow- 
ing month.  But  meanwhile  believers  multiplied  ;  a 
little  congregation  was  collected,  who  met  frequently 
during  the  week  at  each  other's  houses,  and  assem- 
bled on  Sundays  in  the  large  parlor  of  the  Sargent 
mansion,  then  standing  in  the  rear  of  the  building 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  the  First  National  Bank, 
on  the  corner  of  Spring  and  Duncan  streets.  Here, 
with  a  few  interruptions  occasioned  by  his  visits  to 
other  places,  Mr.  Murray  preached  until  the  follow- 
ing May,  when  he  was  urged  by  Colonels  Greene, 
Varnum  and  Hitchcock  to  take  the  chaplaincy  of  the 

5  Life  of  Murray,  p.  298. 

6  Life  of  Murray,  p.  312. 


14  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Rhode  Island  Brigade,  then  in  camp  at  Jamaica 
Plains,  many  of  the  officers  of  which  were  his  per- 
sonal friends,  as  well  as  in  hearty  sympathy  with  his 
religious  sentiments.  Intensely  patriotic  in  his  feel- 
ings towards  his  adopted  country,  he  accepted  the 
position,  and  at  once  entered  upon  his  duties.  When 
Washington,  a  few  weeks  later,  took  command  of  the 
Army,  the  chaplains  united  in  petitioning  him  for 
Mr.  Murray's  removal.  Their  answer  came  in  the 
General  Orders  of  September  17th,  1775,  as  follows  : 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Murray  is  appointed  Chaplain 
to  the  Rhode  Island  Regiments,  and  is  to  be  re- 
spected as  such."^ 

His  stay  in  the  army,  however,  was  of  short  dura- 
tion ;  his  health  failed,  and  severe  sickness  having 
brought  him  low,  he  was  sent  back  to  Gloucester 
after  about  eight  months'  service.  Immediately  on 
his  recovery,  he  saw,  with  great  distress,  the  poverty 
to  which  many  of  the  citizens  of  the  town  were 
reduced  by  the  destruction  of  their  ordinary  business  ; 
and  at  once  made  a  journey  to  his  friends  in  Boston, 
and  to  the  officers  of  the  army,  soliciting  funds  for 
the  relief  of  the  needy.  Great  success  attended  his 
effort,  as  the  following  item  on  the  Town  Records 
shows  : 

''April  3,  1776.  Voted  Unanimously,  That  this 
town  returns  their  sincere  thanks  to  the  compassion- 
ate donors  of  a  sum  of  money  sent  by  the  hands  of 
Mr.  John  Murray  for  the  relief  of  our  poor,  which  he 
lays  out  in  provisions  and  distributes  among  them 
according  to  their  necessities." 

Up  to  this  time,  although  the  Meeting  House  had 

7  Copied  from  the  original  Order  Book  in  the  State  Depart- 
ment at  Washington. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  1 5 

been  closed  against  him,  and  his  friends  had  held 
religious  services  in  their  own  houses,  as  opportunity 
offered,  many  of  them  were  still  members  of  the 
First  Parish  Church.  Mr.  Chandler,  the  former  min- 
ister, having  died,  the  Church  and  Parish  had  invited 
Rev.  Eli  Forbes  to  the  pastorate  ;  and  on  the  day 
after  this  vote  of  the  town,  twenty-four  members  of 
the  Parish,  ten  of  whom  were  interested  in  Mr.  Mur- 
ray's meetings,  addressed  Mr.  Forbes  a  letter,  advis- 
ing him  not  to  accept  the  invitation ;  urging  the  bad 
state  of  the  times  and  the  impoverishment  of  the 
people  as  their  chief  motive  in  giving  this  advice,  at 
the  same  time  intimating  that  his  acceptance  would 
destroy  the  harmony  hitherto  existing  in  the  par- 
ish.* It  has  been  said  that  this  was  disingenuous  on 
the  part  of  Mr.  Murray's  friends,  since  they  were 
then  preparing  to  carry  on  meetings  of  their  own. 
But  I  think  that  the  charge  was  not  well  founded. 
That  the  town  was  sadly  impoverished  the  solicita- 
tion and  acceptance  of  aid  from  abroad  shows,  and 
is  also  evident  from  the  agreement  with  Mr.  Forbes, 
that  if,  as  seemed  probable  in  the  then  exposed  sit- 
uation of  the  town,  the  parish  should  be  broken  up, 
there  should  be  no  obligation  to  pay  him  any 
salary.^  The  support  of  Mr.  Murray's  meetings,  on 
the  other  hand,  involved  little  or  no  expense.  The 
congregation  assembled  in  private  residences,  and  the 
preacher,  having  no  family  dependent  on  him,  re- 
fused any  compensation.  His  wants  were  few,  and 
there  was  no  pecuniary  burden  imposed  in  establish- 
ing his  meetings. 

On    the    settlement  of    Mr.   Forbes,  the   following 

8  See  Appendix  A. 

9  Histon^  of  the  Town  of  (Gloucester.  By  folin  J.Babson,  p. 404. 


l6  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER/ 

June,  Mr.  Murray's  friends  quietly  absented  them- 
selves from  the  Meeting  House.  And  then  com- 
menced a  long  and  desperate  persecution.  A  mob 
collected  around  the  house  of  Mr.  Sargent,  deter- 
mined to  ride  Mr.  Murray  out  of  town  ;  but  being 
dissuaded  from  this,  warned  him  to  leave  at  once,  and 
threatened  violence  if  he  neglected  to  go.  Under  the 
sanction  of  an  old  Provincial  law,  an  attempt  was 
made  to  expel  him  as  a  vagrant  ;  but  this  was  frus- 
trated by  a  deed  of  gift  from  one  of  his  friends, 
which  constituted  him  a  freeholder.  Letters  from 
abroad  were  solicited  against  him,  with  the  view  of 
making  him  an  object  both  of  political  and  of  reli- 
gious hatred.  In  these  he  was  accused  of  being  a 
spy  in  the  employ  of  the  British  ministry,  of  being 
closeted  with  tories  wherever  he  went,  of  having 
been  inimical  to  the  interests  of  the  country,  and 
grossly  immoral  while  in  the  army,  and  of  being  in 
every  respect  a  bad  and  dangerous  man.  Rev.  Dr. 
Stiles  wrote  a  long  letter,  in  which,  after  misrepre- 
senting Mr,  Murray's  views  of  religious  doctrines 
and  ceremonies,  misstating  the  facts  as  to  his  life 
before  leaving  England,  and  the  circumstances  of  his 
beginning  to  preach  in  America,  and  insinuating  that 
he  was  an  enemy  to  the  Patriot  cause,  he  avowed  his 
belief  that  he  was  ''A  Romanist  in  disguise,  endeav- 
oring to  excite  confusion  in  our  churches."  ^'^  Rev. 
John  Cleveland,  Pastor  of  the  Second  Parish  in 
Ipswich,  (now  Essex),  also  entered  the  lists  against 
Mr.  Murray,  by  publishing  a  pamphlet  of  44  pages, 
the  long  title  of  which  commences  ;   ''  An  Attempt  to 

1"  Answer  to  An  Appeal,  p.  11. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  1 7 

nip  in  the  bud  the  unscriptural  Doctrine  of  Universal 
Salvation."  ^^ 

Of  course  these  attacks,  and  the  insinuations  and 
suspicions  of  which  they  were  so  fruitful,  not  only 
increased  the  rage  of  Mr.  Murray's  religious  foes,  but 
also  roused  the  wrath  of  the  patriots  ;  and  so  curses, 
anathemas,  and  sometimes  stones,  followed  his  steps 
as  he  walked  our  streets.  But  fearless  and  undis- 
turbed, he  stood  at  his  post,  converts  multiplied 
around  him,  and  the  affection  and  zeal  of  his  friends 
increased  as  the  opposition  grew  more  furious. 

On  the  27th  of  the  following  February  he  was 
summoned  from  a  bed  of  sickness  to  appear  before 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  all  the  members  of  which, 
then  present,  were  his  avowed  enemies ;  and  was 
there  subjected  to  a  most  insulting  questioning  as 
to  his  business  here,  and  his  right  to  remain  in  the 

11  The  full  title  page  is  :  "  An  Attempt  to  nip  in  the  Bud  the 
unscriptural  Doctrine  of  Universal  Salvation,  and  some  other 
dangerous  Errors  connected  with  it ;  which  a  certain  Stranger, 
who  calls  himself  John  Murray,  has,  of  late,  been  endeavoring 
to  spread  in  the  First  Parish  of  Gloucester,  to  draw  away  Dis- 
ciples after  him.  In  a  Letter  addressed  to  one  of  those  that 
are  drawn  away;  if  possible  to  reclaim  him  and  the  others. 
To  this  End  and  in  Hopes  that  it  may  by  the  Blessing  of  God 
serve  also  to  confirm  all  in  some  of  the  most  important  Doc- 
trines of  God's  Word,  it  is  made  public,  in  Answer  to  the 
Desire  of  a  very  respectable  Number  of  Persons  of  Reputation 
and  Influence  in  said  Parish.  To  which  is  subjoined  the  Dying 
Testimony  for  the  Truth,  and  against  Error,  of  their  worthy 
Minister,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Samuel  Chandler,  lately  deceased. 
By  John  Cleaveland,  A.  M.,  Pastor  of  the  Second  Church  in 
Ipswich.  2  Cor  xi.  3.  But  I  fear  lest  by  any  Means,  as  the 
Serpent  beguiled  Eve  through  his  subtilty,  so  your  Minds 
should  be  corrupted  from  the  Simplicity  that  is  in  Christ. 
Salem  MDCCLXXVI." 


1 8  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

town. ^2  Here  he  bore  himself  most  manfully,  an- 
swered all  that  was  charged,  and  all  that  was  insinu- 
ated against  him,  and  declared  his  firm  determination 
not  to  be  intimidated  by  any  false  accusations,  nor 
by  threats  of  violence.  The  Committee  decided  that 
he  should  leave  town,  and  served  a  notice  on  him 
that  he  must  "depart  in  five  days  from  the  first  of 
March."  As  he  paid  no  heed  to  their  warning,  the 
matter  was  brought  before  a  meeting  of  the  town, 
March  loth,  in  the  records  of  which  is  the  following 
minute : 

"The  question  was  put  whether  the  town  approve 
of  the  conduct  of  the  late  Committee  in  desiring  Mr. 
John  Murray  to  depart  this  town  in  five  days  from 
the  I  St  of  March,  1777.  It  was  voted  in  the  affirma- 
tive, by  54  votes  for  it  and  only  8  against  it." 

But  he  took  no  notice  of  this,  nor  does  there  seem 
to  have  been  any  further  attempt  to  compel  him  to 
leave  the  place.  The  following,  which  came  to  the 
notice  of  the  citizens  not  long  after,  was  sufficient  to 
dispose  of  the  charges  against  his  character  and 
patriotism,  and  to  leave  further  opposition  wholly  to 
his  religious  enemies  : 

"Camp  at  Middle-brook,  May  27th,  1777. 

"  These  may  certify,  that  Mr.  John  Murray  was 
appointed  Chaplain  to  Col.  Varnum's  Regiment,  by 
his  Excellency  General  Washington,  during  the 
army's  lying  before  Boston.  And  during  his  offici- 
ating in  that  capacity  his  conduct  was  regulated  by 
the  laws  of  virtue  and  propriety  ;  his  actions  were 
such  as  to  make  him  respected  as  an  honest  man  and 
a  good  citizen.  He  lived  beloved,  and  left  the  army 
esteemed  by  all  his  connections  and  patrons. 

Nathaniel  Greene,  Major  General." 

1'^  See  Appendix  B. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  I9 

In  September,  1778,  Epes  Sargent,  Winthrop  Sar- 
gent, Ebenezer  Parsons,  David  Pearce,  Catharine 
Sargent,  Judith  Sargent,  Rebecca  Parsons,  Hannah 
Tucker,  Rebecca  Smith,  Judith  Stevens,  Anne  Bab- 
son,  Nancy  Saunders,  Lydia  Prentiss,  Jemima  Cook 
and  Jemima  Parsons,  who  had  become  interested  in 
the  movement  to  establish  Universalism,  were  pub- 
Hcly  suspended  from  the  First  Parish  Church,  ''until 
their  return  from  their  error  in  sentiment  and  prac- 
tice." 1^  Thus  cut  off  from  former  associates,  and 
formally  separated  from  other  Christian  believers, 
our  fathers  and  mothers  turned  their  attention  to  the 
creation  of  an  organization  for  themselves ;  and  on 
the  first  of  January,  1779,  bound  themselves  together 
as  an  ''Independent  Church  of  Christ,"  covenanting 
and  agreeing  to  walk  together  in  Christian  love,  and 
"resolved  by  God's  grace,  whether  blessed  with  the 
public  preaching  of  the  Word  or  not,  to  meet  to- 
gether to  supplicate  the  divine  favour,  to  praise  our 
redeeming  God,  to  hear  his  most  holy  Word,  and 
freely  to  communicate  whatever  God  shall  please  to 
manifest  to  us  for  our  mutual  edification."  They 
also  agreed  to  set  apart  and  receive  as  their  minister, 
which  they  considered  as  being  the  same  as  ordaining 
him,  their  "friend  and  Christian  brother,  John  Mur- 
ray, from  a  full  conviction  that  the  same  God  that 
sent  the  first  preachers  of  Jesus  Christ,  sent  him  ; 
and  that  the  same  gospel  they  preached,  we  have 
from  time  received  from  him."  These  "Articles 
of  Association"  were  signed  by  John  Murray,  and  by 
all  the  members  of  the  congregation,  —  in  all,  sixty- 
one  persons,  — thirty-one  men  and  thirty  women.  1* 

1'^  See  Appendix  C. 

14  See  Appendix  G. 


20  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

What  portion  of  time  Mr.  Murray  gave  to  the 
Church,  I  have  no  means  of  knowing,  but  it  is  cer- 
tain that  he  was  often  called  away  to  preach  in  dis- 
tant places,  besides  making  frequent  visits  to  Boston, 
Providence,  Norwich,  and  other  comparatively  near 
localities.  During  his  absences  at  this  time  and  for 
a  few  succeeding  years,  other  ministers  of  our  faith 
visited  Gloucester.  Among  these  were  Moses  and 
Elhanan  Winchester,  the  latter  a  convert  from  the 
Baptists  in  1781,  a  man  of  learning  and  of  untiring 
zeal ;  John  Tyler,  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  of  Nor- 
wich, Conn. ;  Matthew  Wright,  an  eloquent  and 
learned  Moravian ;  Adams  Streeter,  of  Rhode  Island, 
and  Noah  Parker,  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  Shippie 
Townsend,  a  mechanic,  of  Boston,  a  writer  of  several 
pamphlets  in  defence  of  Universalism  and  also  an 
acceptable  lay  preacher,  was  frequently  here,  and 
helped  on  the  good  work.^^  Thus  the  number  of 
believers  steadily  increased,  and  our  fathers  soon  set 
about  the  erection  of  a  House  of  Worship,  which  was 
dedicated  on  Christmas  day,  1780.  It  was  a  frame 
building,  thirty-two  and  a  half  by  forty-eight  feet, 
and  stood  on  the  westerly  corner  of  Spring  and 
Water  streets,  the  end  of  the  building  facing  Spring 
street,  and  the  entrance  by  two  doors  on  the  western 
side.  Fourteen  persons  associated  themselves  to- 
gether for  the  purchase  of  the  land  and  defraying 
the  expenses  of  building,  holding  ownership  of  the 
pews  in  proportion  to  the  sums  invested  by  them. 
These  pews,  thirty  in  number,  were  large  square 
pews,  the  prevailing,  if  not  the  only  style  of  that 
day,  and  were  assigned  as  follows  :  To  Winthrop  Sar- 
gent, thirteen  ;  David   Plumer,   three ;  Isaac   Elwell, 

15  See  Appendix  D. 


V      HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  21 

two ;  David  Pearce,  two ;  Epes  Sargent,  William 
Pearce,  William  Hales,  Samuel  Sayward,  Joseph  Fos- 
ter, Abraham  Sawyer,  John  Somes,  Bradbury  San- 
ders, William  Murphy,  Philemon  Haskell,  one  each. 
The  cost  of  the  building  I  have  not  been  able  to 
ascertain. 

The  records  make  mention  of  an  organ  loft  in  the 
building,  which  I  suppose  to  have  been  erected  for 
tho  accommodation  of  the  instrument  that  stands 
on  the  floor  before  you,  and  which  was  captured  from 
an  English  merchant-ship,  by  Capt.  John  Somes,  a 
successful  Privateer  during  the  Revolution,  and  was 
by  him  given  or  loaned  to  the  Society.  As  a  crank 
organ  it  was  supplied  with  three  barrels,  each  ar- 
ranged for  ten  tunes,  and  as  most  of  these  were 
inappropriate  for  religious  service,  a  fourth  barrel, 
containing  ten  psalm  tunes,  was  made  for  the  new 
use  to  which  the  instrument  was  now  put.  This 
extra  barrel  shows  much  use,  and  has  doubtless  many 
times  furnished  the  accompaniment  for  singing  the 
hymns  of  James  and  John  Relly,  the  collection  then, 
and  for  many  years  after,  in  use  by  the  congre- 
gation.i^  This  limited  number  of  tunes  seems  to 
have  satisfied  the  people  for  about  fifteen  years,  when 
a  key-board  was  placed  in  the  organ,  and  a  greater 
variety  became  possible. 

On  taking  possession  of  their  House  of  Worship, 
the  hopes  of  the  congregation  were  doubtless  ardent ; 
and  for  a  while  they  were  free  from  molestation,  but 
before  long  they  were  made  to  feel  the  most  deter- 
mined opposition  and  annoyance.  The  assessors  of 
the  First  Parish  claimed  that  they  were  still  obli- 
gated to  contribute,  by  taxation,   to  the  support  of 

16  See  Appendix  E. 


22  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

that  organization.  The  Universahsts  denied  this 
liabiHty,  basing  their  denial  on  the  Bill  of  Rights 
prefixed  to  the  Constitution  of  the  Commonwealth, 
which  had  recently  been  adopted,  the  guarantees  of 
which  were,  that  "All  religious  societies  shall,  at  all 
times,  have  the  exclusive  right  of  electing  their  pub- 
lic teachers,  and  of  contracting  with  them  for  their 
support  and  maintenance.  And  all  moneys  paid  by 
the  subject  for  the  support  of  public  worship,  shall, 
if  he  require  it,  be  uniformly  applied  to  the  support 
of  the  public  teacher  or  teachers,  of  his  own  religious 
sect  or  denomination,  provided  there  be  any  one 
whose  instruction  he  attends."  The  assessors  made 
answer  that  this  provision  could  not  apply  in  this 
case,  because  the  congregation  of  Mr.  Murray  was 
not  a  Religious  Society,  or  if  it  was,  it  had  no  Incor- 
poration ;  nor  was  Mr.  Murray  a  Teacher  of  Religion, 
or  if  so,  he  was  not  an  Ordained  Minister.!^  And  so, 
on  the  assumption  that  they  had  the  right  to  deter- 
mine what  was  and  what  was  not  a  religious  sect,  and 
who  was  or  was  not  a  religious  teacher,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  assess  and  attempt  to  collect  taxes  from 
the  Universalists,  for  the  support  of  the  First  Parish. 

There  was  a  way  out  of  this  difficulty,  which  was 
suggested  to  our  fathers,  and  to  which  many  urged 
them  without  influencing  their  action.  It  was  to 
apply  to  the  Legislature  for  an  Act  of  Incorporation. 
The  answer  to  this  was :  "  Providence  has  so  ordered 
it,  that  we  should  in  the  first  instance  be  called  upon 
to  contend  for  those  religious  liberties  preserved  by 
our  excellent  Constitution.  The  inconsiderableness 
of  our  party,  and  the  prejudices  raised  by  our  ene- 
mies in  the  minds  of  our  fellow-citizens,  point  us  out 

17  "  Answer  to  an  Appeal."  pp.  13,  16. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  23 

as  the  proper  objects  of  the  first  essay  for  rehgious 
tyranny  ;  and  should  we  fly  to  the  law-makers  instead 
of  that  great  law  made  by  the  people  to  govern  the 
legislature  itself,  we  should,  in  our  apprehension, 
betray  our  country's  freedom,  and  act  a  cowardly 
part.  We  should  feel  ourselves  very  unhappy  if  there 
was  no  other  security  in  these  matters  than  acts  of 
legislation,  which  might  be  repealed  at  any  time 
when  a  particular  party  should  prevail."  ^^ 

In  1782  the  First  Parish  enforced  their  demand  by 
seizing  and  selling  at  auction,  the  goods  of  three 
members  of  the  Universalist  Society.  From  Epes 
Sargent  they  took  articles  of  silver  plate ;  from  an- 
other, perhaps  Winthrop  Sargent,  they  took  English 
goods  ;  and  from  another,  probably  David  Pearce,  the 
anchor  of  a  vessel  on  the  point  of  sailing.  William 
Pearce,  a  brother  of  David,  prominent  in  the  mob 
which,  as  before  referred  to,  attempted  to  ride  Mr- 
Murray  ingloriously  out  of  town,  had  become  a  con- 
vert to  Universalism,  and  on  his  resistance  of  the 
tax,  was  lodged  by  the  Parish  Committee  in  Salem 
jail.  Failing  to  recover  their  goods  by  replevin,  the 
society  instituted  a  suit  against  the  assessors,  which 
was  afterwards  withdrawn  as  not  being  tenable  in 
the  form  in  which  it  was  commenced. ^^ 

It  was  found  that,  in  order  for  an  action  to  be  sus- 
tained in  the  Court,  it  must  be  brought  in  the  name 
of  the  religious  teacher  from  whom  the  money  had 
been  diverted.  With  the  utmost  difficulty  could  Mr. 
Murray  be  brought  to  consent  to  such  a  suit.  For 
thirteen  years  he  had  preached  in  many  places  with- 
out accepting  pecuniary  compensation  ;  and  to  be  a 

18  "An  Appeal  to  the  Impartial  Public."  p.  31. 

19  "Answer  to  an  Appeal."  p.  13. 


24  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

prosecutor  for  money  said  to  be  due  him  for  preach- 
ing the  gospel,  which  it  had  been  a  matter  of  prin- 
ciple with  him  to  do  without  price,  appeared  like 
prostrating  his  integrity,  and  to  be  a  claimant  for 
what  he  had  always  affected  to  hold  in  contempt. 
His  friends  were  on  the  point  of  giving  up  the  case, 
so  great  was  his  agony  of  mind  in  regard  to  it  ;  ^^  but 
on  a  review  of  the  matter  it  presented  itself  to  him 
in  this  light :  "  that  persistence  in  his  resolution  was 
a  sacrifice  of  the  personal  interests  of  his  friends, 
and  would  be  a  cowardly  giving  up  of  a  right  which 
the  Constitution  guaranteed  to  all."  And  so  he  con- 
sented to  bring  the  suit.^i  Hon.  Rufus  King  was 
retained  as  counsel,  and  the  case  came  to  trial  in 
1783,  and  was  continued  on  appeal  and  review  to 
1786.  Mr.  King  removing  to  New  York  before  the 
final  decision,  Judges  Sullivan  and  Tudor  became 
Mr.  Murray's  counsel.  Of  the  trial  in  1785,  Mr.  Sul- 
livan gave  the  following  account,  in  a  letter  written 
to  Mr.  King  : 

''June  25th,  1785.  On  Wednesday  last  was  tried 
the  case  of  John  Murray  against  the  inhabitants  of 
the  first  parish  of  Gloucester.  The  cause  was  opened 
by  Mr.  Tudor,  and  closed  by  me  ;  Mr.  Bradbury  and 
Mr.  Parsons  for  the  parish.  Many  exceptions  were 
taken  to  the  form  of  the  action  ;  but  the  three  Judges 
present,  Sewall,  Dana  and  Sumner,  agreed  the  action 
to  be  well  brought.  On  our  part  we  proved  that  the 
Society  under  the  teaching  of  Murray  were  a  sect 
different  from  [Calvinists,  or  the  Standing  Order,]  by 
denying  the  external  rite  of  baptism.  We  rested  it 
there.     The  Court  thought  we  ought  to  prove  him  to 

!^o  Life  of  Murray,    p.  330. 

21  See  Appendix  F. 


FOR86S   CO 


R  E  V.    T  H  O  M  AS    JO  N  K  S. 

Second  Pastor,  1804-1S41. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  2$ 

be  a  teacher  of  piety,  religion  and  morality,  to  entitle 
him  to  the  action.     To  this  we  agreed,  and  therefore 
produced  evidence   that   he   professed  to  teach  the 
Christian  Religion,  which  we  thought   to  be  a  moral 
system,  and  that   the  persons  whose  taxes  were   in 
consideration   attended    upon   him  as   a   teacher   of 
morality,    and   were   content    to    submit    the    cause. 
Upon  the  other  side  they  moved  to  prove  that   his 
doctrines  were  opposed  to  morality  because  he  denied 
punishment   in  another  world.     To  this  we  objected, 
that  although  we  were  obliged  to  prove  him  a  teacher 
of  morality,  yet  they  would  not  go  so  far  as  to  bring 
before  a  civil  tribunal  the  question  whether  the  mo- 
tives of  rewards  and  punishments   in  another  world 
were  such  as  would   induce   piety ;  for,  should  we  at 
once  launch  into  that  inquiry,  there  would  be  no  end 
to  it.     For,  suppose  the  Clergyman  in   suit   was   an 
Episcopalian,  one  of  the  thirty-nine  articles  might  be 
produced  against  him,  which  perhaps   he  had  sworn 
to,  holding  up  the  idea  of  election  and  reprobation, 
which  would  be  deemed  by  those  who  dissented  from 
the   doctrine   to  be   opposed   to    every  incentive   to 
virtue  or  determent  from  vice.     All  Calvinists  were 
involved  in  the  same  observation  ;  the  Hopkintonians 
worse,  still  worse  ;  and  it  might  even  be  said  of  the 
Arminians  that  their  distinction   between  foreknowl- 
edge and  predestination  was   derogatory  to  the   per- 
fection of  the  Deity  ;  and  so  no  end  could  be  had  to 
the  disquisition.     The  Court  were,  however,  against 
us,  and  in  summing  up,  or  rather  arguing  the  cause, 
gave  it  as  their  full  opinion  that   no  teacher  but  one 
who  was  elected  by  a  corporate  society  could  recover 
money   paid   by  his    hearers   to   the   teacher  of   the 
parish.     This  excludes,  you  will  observe,  the   Episco- 


26  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

palians,  Baptists,  Quakers,  Presbyterians  and  Sande- 
manians,  from  all  benefit  arising  from  the  third 
article.  The  jury  thought  otherwise,  and  gave  us  a 
verdict.     John  Tracy,  foreman."  22 

This  verdict  being  in  direct  opposition  to  the 
instructions  of  the  Court,  a  review  of  the  case  was 
ordered,  and  the  final  trial  was  had  the  following 
June. 

Before  that  time  arrived,  the  Universalists  pub- 
lished a  pamphlet  of  thirty-nine  pages,  entitled  ''  An 
Appeal  to  the  Impartial  Public  by  the  Society  of 
Christian  Independents,  congregating  in  Glouces- 
ter." -^  It  was  written  by  Epes  Sargent,  and  con- 
tained a  full  statement  of  the  facts  and  arguments 
in  the  case,  as  based  on  the  Constituton  of  the  Com- 
monwealth. It  was  immediately  followed  by  a  pam- 
phlet of  twenty-three  pages,  entitled  "  An  Answer  to 
a  Piece  entitled  '  An  Appeal  to  the  Impartial  Pnblic, 
by  an  Association'  calling  themselves  'Christian 
Independents,  in  Gloucester.'  "  ^4  In  addition  to  the 
common  arguments  of  that  day  against  allowing 
churches  to  be  founded  in  opposition  to  the  regular 
parish  organization,  this  pamphlet  contains  the  letter 
of  Dr.  Stiles,  before  referred  to,  and  a  strong  appeal 
to  discountenance  ''this  man  Murray,  and  his  perni- 
cious doctrines,  which  have  been  more  damage  to 
this  town  than  the  late  war."  To  this  pamphlet  Mr. 
Murray  at  once  replied  in  a  vigorous  broadside.^^ 

When  the  case  was  heard  upon  review,  in  June, 
1786,  Judge  Dana  had  wholly  changed  his  opinion  as 

22  Amory's  Life  of  James  Sullivan,  Vol.  i,  p.  183. 

23  See  Appendix  G. 

24  See  Appendix  H. 

25  See  Appendix  I. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE,  2/ 

expressed  in  his  rulings  and  instructions  the  year 
before.  He  was  now  of  the  opinion  that  *'as  the 
Constitution  was  meant  for  a  liberal  purpose,  its  con- 
struction should  be  of  the  most  liberal  kind;"  it 
should  not  be  interpreted  to  apply  only  to  corporate 
societies,  but  to  all  religious  bodies.  That  Mr.  Mur- 
ray was  a  teacher  of  piety,  religion  and  morality,  had, 
in  his  opinion,  been  fully  proved.  ''It  is  my  opinion," 
he  said,  "that  Mr.  Murray  comes  within  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  Constitution,  and  has  a  right  to  require 
the  money."  The  jury  brought  in  their  verdict 
that  "The  judgment  obtained  last  year  was  in  noth- 
ing erroneous."  Thus  our  fathers  triumphed  at  last, 
and  in  their  victory  every  sect  in  the  Commonwealth 
was  assured  of  its  rights.  "  I  have  been  the  happy 
instrument  of  which  the  God  of  peace  and  mercy  has 
made  use,"  wrote  Mr.  Murray,  "to  give  a  death 
wound  to  that  hydra,  parochial  persecution."  ^^ 

While  this  suit  was  pending,  other  societies  of 
Universalists,  which  had  been  recently  formed,  de- 
sired instruction,  counsel  and  encouragement  as  to 
legal  duties  and  rights,  and  held  an  Association  at 
Oxford,  in  this  state,  "for  the  purpose,"  as  Mr.  Mur- 
ray states  it,  "  of  deliberating  on  some  plan  to  defeat 
the  designs  of  our  enemies,  who  aim  at  robbing  us 
of  the  liberty  wherewith  the  constitution  has  made 
us  free."  ^^ 

In  anticipation  of  this  Association,  which  was  held 
September  14th,  1785,  the  male  portion  of  the  con- 
gregation, at  a  meeting  on  the  6th  of  that  month, 
adopted  a  "Charter  of  Compact,"  which  provided  for 
carrying  on  the  affairs  of  the  Society  by  voluntary 

26  Murray's  Works,  Vol  2,  p.  351. 

27  Life  of  Murray,  p.  337. 


28  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

subscriptions,  and  sent  it  to  Oxford  as  a  model  for 
the  societies  which  might  be  represented  there.  On 
the  return  of  Mr.  Murray,  most  of  the  amendments 
which  had  been  suggested  by  the  Association  were 
adopted,  the  Compact  was  engrossed  on  parchment, 
and  signed  by  the  male  members  of  the  Society, 
eighty-five  in  number. ^s  This  venerable  document  is 
before  you,  enclosed  in  a  frame  made  from  one  of  the 
timbers  of  the  House  of  Worship  in  which  it  was 
drawn  up  and  signed. 

Great  as  was   the   relief   obtained   by  our  fathers 
from  the  decision  of  the  highest  tribunal  in  the  state, 
their  annoyances  from  their  enemies  were  not  at  an 
end.     Before  this  case  was  out  of  the  court,  a  pros- 
ecution was  commenced  against   their  preacher  for 
performing   the    marriage    ceremony.      He   and   his 
friends  had  assumed  that,  as  the  founders   of  a  new 
sect,  or  at  least  as  the  organizers  of  an  Independent 
Society,  it  was  their  right  to   Ordain  him,  by  simply 
setting  him  apart  as  their  religious  teacher,  without 
having  recourse  to  forms  and  ceremonies  in  any  way 
like  those  which   distinguished  other  sects  in  confer- 
ring Ordination ;  and  that  their  act  was  as  public  and 
notorious  as  it  would  have  been  if  they  had  made  use 
of   such  ceremonies.29     But   their   enemies  reasoned 
differently,  and  selecting  a  particular  case  of  Mar- 
riage by  Mr.  Murray,  brought  suit  against  him  in  the 
Supreme   Judicial    Court,    where   a   verdict   was   ob- 
tained, condemning  him  to  the  payment  of  a  fine  of 
fifty  pounds.     As  he  had  frequently  solemnized  mar- 
riages, and  had  reason  to  expect  that  suits  might  be 
brought  against  him  for  each  offence,  and  the  sum 

28  See  Appendix  J. 

29  "  An  Appeal  to  the  Impartial  Public,"  p.  13. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  29 

of  the  fines  imposed  would  involve  him  and  his 
friends  in  great  difficulty,  he  drew  up  a  petition  to 
the  legislature,  for  relief,  and  pending  action  upon  it, 
left  the  country  on  a  visit  to  his  native  land  in  Jan- 
uary, 1788.  Early  in  the  session,  the  legislature,  by 
a  handsome  majority  in  the  House,  and  almost  unan- 
imously in  the  Senate,  passed  an  Act,  ''  Indemnify- 
ing him  from  all  the  pains  and  penalties  which  he 
may  have  incurred  on  account  of  having  solemnized 
any  marriages  ;  "  ^^  and  he  returned  home  the  follow- 
ing July. 

Nearly  his  first  act  on  reaching  this  place  was  to 
record,  in  the  Town  Clerk's  book,  his  intentions  of 
marriage  with  Mrs.  Judith  Stevens,  a  daughter  of  his 
friend  Winthrop  Sargent,  concerning  whom  it  might 
be  interesting  to  say  many  things,  both  as  to  her 
intellectual  abilities  and  reputation  as  an  authoress ; 
her  husband's  pride  in  her  on  account  of  her  position 
in  the  world  of  letters ;  and  her  own  devotion  to  him 
and  to  the  sentiments  which  he  preached  ;  but  I  can- 
not trespass  on  your  time  to  say  it  here.  The  inten- 
tions of  marriage  were  recorded  in  July,  and  the  mar- 
riage took  place  in  Salem,  October,  1788.^^ 

The  next  important  event  was  his  re-ordination,  a 
measure  determined  upon  by  the  Society,  that  they 
might  not  again  be  subjected  to  the  annoyance  and  ex- 
pense of  litigations.  This  ceremony  took  place  in  the 
House  of  Worship  on  Christmas  day,  1788.^2  Win- 
throp Sargent,  David  Plumer  and  Barnett  Harkin 
were  appointed  a  committee  ''  on  the  behalf  of  the 
church  and  congregation  to  transact  the  ceremonies," 

•io  Life  of  Murray,  pp.  341-344. 

31  See  Appendix  K. 

32  See  Appendix  L. 


30  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

which  they  did  by  first  presenting  him  with  a  formal 
call  to  become  their  minister ;  then  by  announcing 
the  vote  of  the  Church  that  the  ceremonies  in  which 
they  were  engaged  were  the  act  of  Ordination  ;  and 
finally  by  presenting  him  the  ''Sacred  Scriptures  as 
a  solemn  seal  of  his  Ordination  to  the  Ministry  of  the 
New  Testament,  and  the  sole  directory  of  his  faith 
and  practice."  Mr.  Murray  offered  the  prayers,  and 
preached  a  discourse  from  Luke  x  :  2.  "  The  harvest 
truly  is  great,  but  the  laborers  are  few ;  pray  ye 
therefore  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he  would  send 
forth  laborers  into  his  harvest." 

Up  to  this  year,  Mr.  Murray  had  received  no  stated 
salary,  his  wants  having  been  supplied  by  the  volun- 
tary contributions  of  his  friends,  as  provided  in  the 
Charter  of  Compact.  But  in  anticipation  of  his  mar- 
riage, the  society  agreed,  about  a  month  before  that 
event,  to  pay  him  the  sum  of  "  One  hundred  pounds 
per  year,"  and  to  raise  it  by  tax,  "paying  severally  in 
such  a  proportion  as  we  pay  the  town  or  state  tax  the 
year  immediately  preceding."  This  agreement  was 
signed  by  seventy-six  of  the  male  members  of  the 
society.'^-^  As  consent  had  been  given,  some  two  years 
previous  to  this,  to  a  request  from  the  society  in  Bos- 
ton, that  Mr.  Murray  should  preach  there  once  in 
three  weeks,^*  I  suppose  a  deduction  to  have  been 
made  of  his  time  spent  there,  for  I  find  that  the  first 
tax  assessed  on  this  vote  was  for  Thirty-five  pounds, 
thirteen  shillings  and  seven  pence,  for  six  months 
beginning  January  ist,  1789.  This  amount  was 
assessed  on  one  hundred  and  three  persons,  David 
Pearce  paying   Eight   pounds,   nineteen  shillings  and 

33  See  Appendix  M. 

34  See  Appendix  N. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  3 1 

ten  pence  ;  Winthrop  Sargent,  Two  pounds,  eleven 
shillings  and  ten  pence ;  Joseph  Foster,  Two  pounds, 
two  shillings  and  eight  pence ;  four  persons  paying 
upwards  of  One  pound  each,  and  the  remainder  vary- 
ing from  nineteen  shillings  down  to  one  shilling,  four 
pence.  In  1790,  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  persons 
were  assessed,  and  Forty-one  pounds,  seventeen  shil- 
lings and  four  pence  raised  in  sums  varying  from 
Nine  pounds,  one  shilling  and  six  pence,  to  one  shil- 
ling and  six  pence. 

This  year  Mr.  Murray  was  absent  from  May  to 
November,  first  in  attendance  on  a  Convention  in 
Philadelphia,  and  then  engaged  in  preaching  in  vari- 
ous places  in  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  Connecticut 
and  Rhode  Island.  On  his  return  his  enemies  insti- 
tuted another  suit  at  law,  serving  a  writ  upon  him 
within  an  hour  of  his  arrival ;  ^^  the  occasion  being  a 
decision  of  the  Courts  that  a  resident  of  a  corporate 
parish  could  not  divert  the  tax  imposed  on  him  for 
the  support  of  religious  worship,  to  maintain  an  unin- 
corporated society.  This  was  a  reversal  of  the  deci- 
sion of  1786,  and  of  course  threw  open  the  whole 
question  which  it  was  supposed  had  then  been  de- 
cided. For  some  reason,  the  suit  was  not  pressed 
to  trial ;  but  the  Society,  weary  of  such  annoyances, 
and  in  dread  of  their  repetition,  petitioned  the  Legis- 
lature for  an  Act  of  Incorporation,  which  was  granted 
June  28th,  1792,  when  David  Pearce,  Winthrop  Sar- 
gent, and  forty-nine  others  whose  names  are  given, 

35  This  information  is  based  on  an  unpublished  letter  of  Mr. 
Murray's,  dated  "Gloucester,  November  i,  1790."  In  it  he 
says  :  "  My  determined  foes  in  this  place  have  brought  me  into 
the  law  again.  I  had  not  been  in  this  town  one  hour  before  I 
was  served  with  a  writ,  and  am  obliged  to  defend  myself  once 
more." 


32  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

together  with  all  others  who  are  or  may  be  associated 
with  them,  were  "  set  apart  and  Incorporated  into  a 
society  by  the  name  of  '  The  Independent  Christian 
Church  in  Gloucester.'  "  ^*^ 

While  awaiting  the  result  of  their  petition  for 
Incorporation,  the  Society  levied  no  tax,  but  resorted 
to  subscriptions  for  defraying  their  expenses,  made 
payable  to  Winthrop  Sargent  and  nine  others,  who 
obligated  themselves  to  Mr.  Murray  for  the  payment 
of  his  salary.  On  this  subscription  I  find  one  hun- 
dred and  three  names  pledged  for  sums  ranging  from 
Eight  pounds,  nineteen  shillings  and  eight  pence,  to 
one  shilling  and  six  pence. 

The  Society  may  be  said  to  have  supposed  itself  at 
the  time  of  obtaining  its  Incorporation,  victorious 
over  all  hindrances  to  its  peace  and  growth,  and  to 
have  entered  on  a  career  of  great  increase  in  num- 
bers, religious  interestedness,  and  general  prosperity  ; 
but  in  reality  it  was  on  the  eve  of  its  greatest  trials 
and  embarrassments.  While  at  Philadelphia,  Mr. 
Murray  had  with  great  difficulty  resisted  the  impor- 
tunities of  the  Church  in  that  city  to  become  its 
pastor.  A  yearly  income  of  Four  hundred  pounds, 
exclusive  of  his  house-rent,  was  promised  him  ;  and 
he  was  only  permitted  to  depart  by  pledging  to  lay 
the  matter  before  his  Eastern  friends,  and  to  urge 
that  they  release  him.^^  The  Boston  society  would 
not  consent  to  his  leaving  the  state,  but  urged  him 
to  take  up  his  residence  there,  promising  to  do  as 
well  by  him,  pecuniarily,  as  was  done  by  any  minis- 
ter settled  in  the  town.  The  society  here  preferred 
its  claim,  was  anxious  to  employ  him  constantly,  and 

36  See  Appendix  O. 

37  Life  of  Murray,  p.  353. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  33 

promised  to  do  better  by  him  in  worldly  matters  than 
could  be  done  elsewhere.  Mrs.  Murray's  family  also 
brought  forward  their  personal  reasons  why  there 
should  be  no  change,  and  the  result  was  that  Mr. 
Murray  seemed  to  be  more  firmly  located  in  Glouces- 
ter than  ever  before.  But  in  the  year  1793  Mrs. 
Murray's  parents  died,  her  family  became  scattered, 
and  the  special  ties  which  bound  her  to  Gloucester 
were  severed.  Mr.  Murray  had  sought  in  vain  for  a 
pastor  for  the  Boston  society  ;  the  great  importance 
of  a  well-established  centre  for  Universalism  there, 
was  becoming  more  and  more  apparent,  and  he  felt 
compelled  to  announce  to  this  society  that  duty  called 
him  to  Boston,  whither  he  went,  and  was  Installed 
Pastor,  by  the  Deacons  of  the  Church,  October  23d, 
1793.38 

It  was  a  most  melancholy  thing  for  this  Society  to 
have  him  leave  the  place  that  had  been  his  home  for 
nineteen  years,  and  where  they  had  shared  so  fully 
in  his  troubles  and  joys.  They  had  increased  in 
numbers  and  in  worldly  prosperity,  and  they  would 
gladly  have  shared  with  him  their  material  gains ; 
but  they  could  urge  nothing  against  his  convictions 
of  duty,  and  parted  with  him,  "stipulating  that  he 
should  occasionally  visit  them,  and  that  they  should 
be  allowed  to  command  his  presence  upon  every  dis- 
tressing or  important  exigence,  until  they  should  be 
favored  with  another  pastor;"  a  pledge  faithfully 
redeemed  by  him  for  the  ensuing  ten  years,  during 
which  many  shadows  passed  over  this  little  flock. 
Although  the  times  were  oppressive,  they  had  no 
pecuniary  difficulties  in  the  way  of  their  prosperity, 
and  were,  at  the  time  of  his  leaving  them,  possessed 

•^8  Life  of  Murray,  p.  362. 


34  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

of  property  representing  one-third  of  the  entire  val- 
uation of  the  town.  But  Universalist  ministers  were 
few,  the  demands  for  their  services  were  numerous, 
and  how  to  obtain  a  pastor  was  a  matter  beset  with 
many  difficulties.  Nor  was  it  always  easy  to  obtain 
even  temporary  supplies.  The  attempt  was  made, 
however,  and  with  quite  an  approach  to  success,  to 
have  preaching  once  in  two  weeks. 

Rev.  Messrs.  Matthew  Wright  and  Hosea  Ballou 
officiated  during  the  remainder  of  the  year  1793. 

In  1794,  Rev.  Thomas  Barns  supplied  the  pulpit 
about  one-half  the  time,  occasionally  assisted  by  Rev. 
Messrs.  Zephaniah  Lathe  and  Isaac  Mansfield.  The 
Society  raised  Eighty  pounds  to  defray  its  expenses, 
which  it  assessed  on  one  hundred  and  eighteen  per- 
sons, among  whom  seventy-seven  estates  were  repre- 
sented, aggregating  a  valuation  of  Fifty  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eleven  pounds,  the  largest  estate 
being  that  of  David  Pearce,  then  probably  the  wealthi- 
est man  in  town,  valued  at  Nine  thousand  five  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  pounds.  The  total  valuation 
of  the  town  that  year  was  One  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  thousand  five  hundred  and  forty-five  pounds. 

In  1795  the  Society  voted  to  raise  the  sum  of 
Ninety  pounds,  and  have  preaching  three-fourths  of 
the  time.  The  services  of  Mr.  Barns  were  obtained 
for  one-half  the  year,  but  the  balance  of  the  time 
could  not  be  provided  for. 

In  1796  the  sum  of  One  hundred  pounds  was  raised 
for  preaching,  but  it  was  impossible  to  obtain  a  sup- 
ply oftener  than  once  in  two  weeks,  when  Mr.  Barns 
officiated. 

The  same  amount  was  raised   in    1797.     Mr.  Barns 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  35 

preached  half  the  time,  and  Rev.  Michael  Coffin  was 
here  occasionally. 

In  1798  the  Society  raised  Three  hundred  dollars, 
and  Mr.  Barnes  preached  once  in  two  weeks,  till 
October,  when  he  made  a  visit  to  Maine,  where  he 
located  soon  after.  Rev.  Hosea  Ballon  was  here 
once  in  two  weeks  during  the  rest  of  the  year. 

In  1799,  Rev.  Messrs.  Hosea  Ballou,  John  Foster, 
George  Richards,  and  Zephaniah  Lathe  supplied  the 
pulpit  for  twenty-one  Sundays.  Not  until  this  year 
did  the  Society  establish  their  title  to  the  land  on 
which  their  House  of  Worship  stood.  It  belonged 
to  the  estate  of  Winthrop  Sargent ;  and  "  on  the 
basis  of  the  valuation  of  1781,"  they  assessed  a  tax 
on  the  proprietors  of  the  pews,  and  raised  the  sum 
of  One  hundred  pounds  in  payment  for  the  land. 

In  1800,  preaching  was  had  but  fourteen  Sundays, 
by  Rev.  Messrs.  John  Foster,  Ebenezer  Paine,  and 
Thomas  Barns. 

In  1801  there  was  preaching  once  in  two  weeks,  by 
Rev.  Messrs.  Hosea  Ballou,  John  Foster,  Thomas 
Barns,  Edward  Turner,  George  Richards  and  John 
Murray. 

In  1802  there  was  preaching  only  seven  Sundays, 
the  pulpit  being  occupied  by  Rev.  Messrs.  George 
Richards,  Joshua  Flagg  and  Edward  Turner.  Mr. 
Turner  was  here  at  the  request  of  Rev.  George  Rich- 
ards, then  settled  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  who  took  a 
lively  interest  in  the  affairs  of  this  Society,  and  aided 
it  by  all  the  means  in  his  power  during  the  long  time 
it  was  without  a  pastor.  This  year  the  Society  voted 
to  take  down  the  Organ  loft  in  their  House  of*  Wor- 
ship, at  which  time,  I  suppose,  the  ancient  instru- 
ment before  us  passed  into  retirement. ^^ 

39  The  Organ  reverted  to  the  possession  of  Mr.  Somes,  and 


36  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

At  the  Annual  Meeting  in  1803,  ''the  Society 
Voted,  To  have  Mr.  Turner  to  preach  with  them  the 
current  year."  But  Mr.  Turner  declined  the  invita- 
tion, and  it  was  found  impossible  to  obtain  supplies 
for  more  than  fourteen  Sundays  in  the  year.  These 
were  furnished  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Isaac  Root,  Noah 
Murray,  Mr.  Gleason  and  Thomas  Jones.^*^  The  lat- 
ter came  from  Philadelphia,  where  he  had  been  pas- 
tor since  1796.  He  was  here  at  the  urgent  solicita- 
tion of  Mr.  Murray,  who  wrote  to  the  Society  that 
Mr.  Jones  was  a  superior  preacher,  and  that  they 
could  do  no  better  than  to  hear  him  and  keep  him.*^ 

At  the  Annual  Meeting  in  March,  1804,  the  Society 
"Voted,  To  have  preaching  the  current  year  by  set- 
tling a  Minister.  That  a  salary  of  Five  hundred 
dollars  be  given  by  this  Society  to  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Jones,  together  with  the  expense  of  removing  his 
family  to  Gloucester,  in  case  Mr.  Jones  shall  con- 
clude to  settle  as  Pastor  of  this  Society,  after  the 
trial  of  a  term  not  exceeding  six  months  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  all  parties."  The  six  months'  trial  hav- 
remained  in  the  keeping  of  his  descendants  till  1870,  when  it 
was  loaned  to  the  Society  for  exhibition  during  the  Centennial. 
At  the  close  of  that  celebration,  it  was  thus  donated  to  the 
Society  : 

"B.  H.  Corliss,  Esq.,  Treasurer  of  the  Independent  Christian 
Society; 

Sir  —  Permit  me  to  present,  through  you,  to  the  Independent 
Christian  Society,  the  'Murray  Organ,' and  to  assure  them 
that  it  certainly  affords  me  great  pleasure  thus  to  donate  this 
most  interesting  relic  of  the  olden  times,  knowing  full  well  that 
in  their  keeping  it  will  be  preserved  from  ruin  and  decay,  to  the 
later  generations.  With  my  best  wishes  for  the  future  pros- 
perity of  the  Society,  I  subscribe  myself, 

Harriet  Webber." 

40  See  Appendix  D. 

41  See  Appendix  P. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  3/ 

ing  proved  satisfactory,  the  Society,  at  a  meeting 
held  September  3d,  "  Unanimously  voted,  That  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Jones  be  Installed  as  Pastor  over  the 
Independent  Society  in  Gloucester,  during  his  nat- 
ural life,"  His  salary  was  at  the  same  time  fixed 
at  Six  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  to  date  from  his 
Installation  ;  which  took  place  September  26th,  the 
Sermon  and  Charge  by  Rev.  John  Murray,  the  Install- 
ing Prayer  and  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship  by  Rev. 
George  Richards.  I  believe  this  to  have  been  the 
first  Installation  in  the  history  of  the  Universalist 
Church,  where  the  services  were  wholly  conducted  by 
preachers. 

Then  commenced  a  long  and  successful  pastorate 
of  an  eminently  devoted  and  faithful  minister,  one 
whose  attention  was  early  called  to  the  sacred  things 
to  which  he  was  wholly  consecrated  during  a  long 
and  blameless  life.  Born  at  Narbath,  Pembrokshire, 
South  Wales,  April  5th,  1763,  he  entered,  at  the  age 
of  nineteen,  the  Seminary  established  by  the  Coun- 
tess of  Huntingdon,  at  Trevacca,  Wales,  for  the  edu- 
cation of  young  men  for  the  Calvinistic  Methodist 
Ministry.  Spending  three  years  in  this  institution 
he  graduated  in  1785,  and  was  immediately  Ordained, 
and  entered  upon  his  work  as  a  preacher,  fully  imbued 
with  and  heartily  believing  the  doctrines  of  White- 
field.  His  settlement  was  at  Berks,  England,  where 
for  three  years  he  was  an  earnest  and  sincere  preacher 
of  the  doctrines  in  which  he  had  been  educated. 
But  in  1788  he  was  brought  by  the  study  of  the  Scrip- 
tures to  the  belief  of  Universalism,  which  he  at  once 
openly  professed,  and  began  to  preach.  His  church, 
instead  of  casting  him  off,  severed  its  connection 
with  the  Calvinistic   Methodists,  and   retained   him 


^S  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

till  his  removal  to  America,  eight  years  later,  whither 
he  came  at  the  earnest  desire  of  John  Murray,  who 
was  interested  in  obtaining  a  Pastor  for  the  Church 
in  Philadelphia.  He  had  entered  his  forty-second 
year  when  he  became  Pastor  of  this  Church,  and  forty- 
two  years  were  added  to  his  life  before  he  changed 
his  home  among  you  for  the  home  immortal. 

During  his  long  pastorate  many  things  occurred 
which  it  would  greatly  interest  the  older  of  you  to 
have  again  brought  to  your  remembrance,  and  many 
which  it  might  be  of  service  to  all  to  know  ;  but  I 
must  not  presume  to  mention,  save  in  the  briefest 
manner,  a  very  few  of  those  things  which  are  most 
prominent  in  the  history  of  the  Society,  as  indicating 
its  own  growth  and  progress,  and  the  influences  which 
have  gone  forth  from  it  in  other  parts  of  the  territory 
then  embraced  in  the  limits  of  the  town. 

As  early  as  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  the  Charter 
of  Compact,  several  of  the  signers  resided  at  Sandy 
Bay,  now  Rockport.  In  1804  they  had  so  increased 
as  to  be  one-fifth  of  the  membership  of  this  Society, 
and  had  contributed  two-fifths  of  the  amount  raised 
that  year  for  the  building  of  a  new  Meeting  House  at 
Sandy  Bay,  then  the  Fifth  Parish  in  Gloucester,  for 
which  they  had  received  the  promise  of  the  use  of 
the  house  twenty-one  Sundays  in  each  year.  Shortly 
after  Mr.  Jones  came  here  it  was  arranged  that  he 
should  preach  there  every  fifth  Sunday ;  and  as  it 
was  impossible  to  obtain  supplies  for  the  other  por- 
tion of  the  time  to  which  the  Universalists  were  en- 
titled to  the  use  of  the  house,  they  temporarily  relin- 
quished their  right  to  those  Sundays  to  the  Congre- 
gational Society.  The  arrangement  with  Mr.  Jones 
continued  two  years,  at  the   expiration  of  which,  the 


HISTORICAL     DISCOURSE.  39 

parish  voted  to  themselves  the  exclusive  use  of  the 
Meeting  House,  and  the  Universalists  were  shut  out. 
Meetings  were  then  commenced  in  a  school-house,  a 
Universalist  Society  was  subsequently  organized,  and 
a  suit  in  equity  for  the  use  of  the  Meeting  House, 
was  commenced.  After  a  protracted  litigation  of 
years,  the  Court,  virtually  acknowledging  the  justice 
of  the  Universalists'  claim,  dismissed  the  action  for 
want  of  jurisdiction,  and  referred  them  for  redress  to 
the  Legislature.  Preferring  rather  to  build  a  new 
house  than  to  have  further  contention  about  the  old, 
the  corner  stone  was  laid  June  24th,  1829,  and  the 
frame,  gotten  out  at  Cambridge,  and  floated  to  Sandy 
Bay,  was,  by  the  volunteer  services  of  the  citizens, 
taken  from  the  water,  and  raised  on  its  foundation, 
the  ensuing  Fourth  of  July.  On  the  8th  of  October, 
the  House  was  Dedicated,  the  Pastor  of  this  Church 
preaching  the  sermon.  The  Pastors  of  the  Society 
in  Sandy  Bay  after  the  Dedication,  and  until  1840, 
when  that  portion  of  our  old  town  was  set  off  to  make 
the  town  of  Rockport,  were  Rev.  Messrs.  Fayette 
Mace,  Lucius  R.  Paige,  B.  B.  Murray,  A.  C.  L.  Ar- 
nold, Charles  Spear,  and  Gibson  Smith. 

Mr.  Jones'  settlement  at  once  drew  the  Society 
together,  and  so  speedily  increased  the  size  of  the  con- 
gregation that  on  the  5th  of  February,  1805,  a  num- 
ber of  the  members  met  together  for  the  purpose  of 
considering  the  pressing  necessity  for  a  new  Meeting 
House,  and  there  agreed  to  open  a  subscription  for 
the  erection  of  such  a  building,  the  number  of  shares 
to  be  subscribed  for  not  to  be  less  than  one  hundred 
nor  more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty.  The  whole 
matter  was  left  to  the  supervision  of  a  Committee 
consisting  of    John    Somes,   William    Pearce,    Israel 


40  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Trask,  Joseph  Foster,  and  Isaac  Elwell.  Mr.  Pearce 
having  bargained  for  a  large  lot  of  land,  the  ''  Sub- 
scribers to  the  New  Meeting  House,"  at  a  meeting 
held  in  April,  "Voted,  To  take  the  whole  land  as  pur- 
chased by  Col.  William  Pearce  for  the  Meeting  House 
upon  the  same  terms  on  which  he  bid  it  off,  and  that 
a  part  of  the  same  be  reserved  for  a  Burial  Ground. 
That  the  Meeting  House  be  erected  near  the  emi- 
nence back  or  north  of  the  brook,  and  that  a  hand- 
some gravelled  way  be  laid  from  Middle  street  to  the 
front  of  said  house,  and  that  there  be  gravelled  side- 
walks for  foot  passengers,  with  rows  of  trees  on  each 
side,  and  terminating  with  turnpike  gates."  The 
price  of  the  land  was  Twelve  hundred  dollars,  and 
the  lot  extended  from  Middle  to  High  street,  the 
front  on  Middle  street  being  sixty-three  feet  on  the 
line  of  the  Northern  side  of  the  street,  and  thence 
extending  in  a  North-eastern  direction,  back  of  the 
present  Northern  line  of  Middle  street,  about  Two 
hundred  feet,  and  thence  in  an  irregular  course  to 
High  street,  thence  West  on  High  street  about  One 
hundred  and  seventy  feet,  thence  South  to  Middle 
street, ^2  j^  large  lot  near  the  Northern  end  was 
reserved  for  a  Burial  Ground,  so  much  of  the  South- 
ern end  as  extends  from  Pine  street  to  Middle  street, 
together  with  the  Meeting  House,  when  completed, 
except  the  pews,  was  given  by  the  Subscribers,  to  the 
Society.    Three-fourths  of  the  Burial  Ground  was  laid 

*2  The  bounds  are  thus  given  in  the  deed  from  "  Patrick  Jef- 
frey, of  Milton,  in  the  County  of  Norfolk,  and  Mary  his  wife. 
A  certain  piece  of  land  lying  in  Gloucester,  upon  the  Northerly 
side  of  Middle  street,  and  bound  at  the  Eastern  corner  by  land 
of  Philemon  Haskell,  dec'd,  and  running  by  said  street  South 
67  degrees  west  four  rods  and  one  tenth  to  Sam'l  Whittemore's 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  4I 

out  in  lots  corresponding  to  the  number  of  the  pews 
in  the  Meeting  House,  and  one  lot  assigned  to  the 
owner  of  each  pew ;  the  remaining  fourth  was  given 
to  the  Society.  The  gravelled  walks  were  laid  out, 
and  Poplar  trees  were  planted,  which,  some  twenty 
years  after,  were  taken  up,  and  the  present  Elms 
took  their  place.  There  were  Fifty-two  Subscribers, 
and  the  Shares  were  One  hundred,  at  One  hundred 
dollars  each.  William  Pearce  was  the  largest  sub- 
scriber, having  fifteen  shares,  John  Somes  had  thir- 
teen shares,  two  of  the  subscribers  had  four  shares, 
four  had  three  shares,  eight  had  two  shares,  and 
thirty-six  had  one  share  each.^^ 

The  Corner  Stone  of  the  new  building,  the  one  in 
which  we    are   now  assembled,  was   laid    September 

land,  thence  running  north  4  degrees  west  by  said  Whittemore's 
land,  and  land  of  Jonathan  Brown,  jr.,  and  land  of  Aaron  Burn- 
ham  to  a  stake  twenty-six  rods  and  four  tenths,  thence  running 
North  53°.  West  by  said  Burnham  and  land  formerly  owned  by 
Nath'l  Ellery  and  land  of  Benjamin  Stacey  and  land  of  Zebulon 
Parsons  and  land  of  Robert  Cleaves,  former  owners,  twenty- 
one  rods  and  three-tenths,  thence  running  North  4i}4°-  East 
by  land  formerly  owned  by  Benjamin  Appleton  five  and  one- 
half  rods,  thence  running  by  land  of  Thomas  Millet  six  rods  to 
the  highway,  thence  by  said  highway  or  back  street  about 
South  80°.  East  ten  rods  and  four-tenths  to  Jacob  Smith's  land, 
then  by  said  Smith  South  42°.  East  fourteen  rods  and  four- 
tenths  to  land  formerly  owned  by  said  Philemon  Haskell, 
thence  by  said  Haskell's  land  South  13°.  East  nine  rods  and 
six-tenths  to  a  stake,  thence  by  said  Haskell  North  84°.  East, 
two  rods  and  one-tenth  to  the  corner  of  the  wall,  thence  by  said 
wall  16°.  East  about  sixteen  rods  and  four-tenths  to  the  brook, 
thence  by  said  wall  and  brook  South  84)4°.  West  twenty  feet, 
thence  Southerly  by  said  Haskell's  land  about  fifteen  rods  and 
three-tenths  to  Middle  street,  to  the  bounds  first  mentioned, 
the  whole  containing  more  or  less." 
*3  See  Appendix  Q. 


42  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

5th,  1805,  by  John  Tucker,  Master  of  Tyrian  Lodge, 
F.  A.  M.^*  Col.  Jacob  Smith  was  the  Architect  and 
Builder.  The  timber  of  which  the  frame  of  this 
house  is  constructed,  was  felled  in  the  British  Prov- 
inces, and  shipped  for  England  in  the  Barque  ''  The- 
odosia,"  which,  becoming  disabled  near  our  harbor, 
was  brought  in  here  and  condemned  as  unseaworthy. 
Her  cargo  was  bought  by  Col.  Pearce,  sometime  in 
1804.  The  building  was  completed  and  ready  for  use 
in  October,  1806.  The  first  Sunday  in  that  month  a 
Farewell  Service  was  held  in  the  old  House  of  Wor- 
ship. The  conclusion  of  the  Discourse  on  that  occa- 
sion I  now  read  you  from  the  Manuscript  used  by 
Father  Jones  : 

'*I  have  now  closed  my  subject.  I  beg  your  pa- 
tience a  few  minutes  longer,  My  Friends,  till  I  make 
a  few  remarks  on  this  our  eventful  Day,  and  our 
present  circumstances.  This  Day  we  close  our  as- 
sembling in  this  consecrated  spot.  Many  of  the  Fa- 
thers who  dedicated  the  House  to  the  God  and  Fa- 
ther of  all,  and  to  His  Christ,  are  gathered  unto  their 
Fathers,  within  the  Vail!  We  shall  see  them  no 
more  until  the  General  Muster  of  our  race,  when  we 
hope  to  join  them  in  triumph  and  perfect  worship 
before  the  throne  of  the  Son  of  God. 

"We  rejoice  that  some  of  the  Elders  are  still 
amongst  us, — who  will  not  weep  for  sorrow  at  our 
approaching  Dedication,  as  the  Elders  of  Israel  wept 
at  the  laying  the  Foundation  of  the  Second  Temple, 
because  it  was  far  inferior  to  the  first, — but  will 
rejoice  with  our  young  men  and  maidens,  in  our  latter 
house.  Many  can,  and  could  have  said  of  this  place. 
This   is   the    House   of    God!    this   is   the   Gate    of 

'i'4  See  Appendix  R. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  43 

Heaven  !  I  trust  they  will  continue  to  find  Every 
place  consecrated  by  the  sound  of  the  Saviour's 
name,  Hallowed  Ground  ! 

"  Here  they  first  heard  that  Christ  died  for  all ! 
that  His  Grace  and  Mercy  was  as  extensive  as  the 
Light  of  the  sun,  and  as  free  as  the  Air. 

''  Here  you  have  heard  various  Gifts,  and  divers 
Talents,  uniting,  however,  in  one  point — to  ascribe 
to  God  Goodness  and  Mercy  consistent  with  Justice 
and  Holiness.  Here  you  obtained  freedom  as  an 
Independent  Church  or  Society  of  Christians,  the 
Charter  of  which  you  will  transmit  inviolate  to  your 
children,  and  they  to  theirs. 

"It  is  twenty-six  years  next  Christmas  since  you 
first  assembled  in  this  place.  When  your  Candle- 
stick was  removed  to  another  place,  you  were  not 
left  in  darkness.  A  Degree  of  the  true  light  had 
been  emitted  unto  you.  God  in  His  Providence  com- 
manded the  emitted  Blaze  to  stand  still  in  your  Gib- 
eon  ;  and  here  we  are  this  Day.  A  new  Day  hath 
visited  us.  We  say  with  surprise,  thankfulness  and 
gratitude,  What  hath  God  wrought !  He  hath  done 
for  us  Great  things,  whereof  we  are  Glad  ! 

**  This  Day  and  the  approaching  one  I  esteem  as 
the  most  eventful  of  all  my  eventful  life.  Born  in 
the  Northwest  extremity  of  Britain — where  the  At- 
lantic Ocean  dashes  her  shores  —  strictly  educated 
•  in  the  religious  tenets  of  John  Calvin,  who  sincerely 
thought  Christ  Sovereignly  excluded  a  part  of  Man- 
kind from  Redemption.  But  I  was  enabled  to  break 
these  Bands  as  Sampson  did  the  Green  Withs,  and 
think  freely  for  Myself;  for  which  I  suffered  perse- 
cution several  years.  God  hath  given  me  an  Asylum 
of  peace  among  you,  where  I  am  willing  to  close  my 


44  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Eyes,  and  Open  them  no  more  till  upon  the  Son  of 
Man  in  His  Glory  and  Kingdom. 

''My  Friends,  I  count  it  one  of  the  most  Honor- 
able of  all  my  Deeds  to  lead  you  out  of  this  House, 
where  you  have  enjoyed  so  much  religious  pleasure, 
into  your  new  House  about  to  be  Dedicated  to  the 
Head  of  the  Church. 

"May  the  Holy  Fire  continue  burning  clear  upon 
our  new  Altar. 

"  May  the  Divine  Presence  and  Blessing  go  with  us. 

"  May  your  religious  pleasures  increase  and  mul- 
tiply. 

"  May  our  lives  be  prolonged  so  long  as  useful,  and 
we  finish  our  course  with  joy. 

"  I  congratulate  you  all  on  this  Occasion,  Espe- 
cially the  Elders  of  the  Congregation,  in  the  pros- 
pect of  your  children's  worshipping  the  God  of  their 
Fathers  ;  and  pray  that  our  Sons  may  be  as  plants 
grown  up  in  their  Youth  ;  that  our  Daughters  may 
be  as  Corner  stones,  polished  after  the  Similitude  of 
a  palace. 

''  I  conclude  wishing  God  may  prosper  your  handy- 
work,  and  that  His  Glory  and  Blessing  may  rest  upon 
us ;  that  we  may  continue  to  add  to  our  Faith  Virtue, 
and  Go  on  toward  perfection,  adorning  the  Doctrine 
of  God  our  Saviour  by  Christ,  in  all  Things.     Amen." 

The  following  Thursday,  October  9th,  this  House 
was  Dedicated  to  the  Worship  of  God.  Rev.  John 
Murray  offered  the  Introductory  and  Dedicatory 
Prayers,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Jones  preached  the  Ser- 
mon, from  Ephesians  ii:  19,  20,  21.  I  regret  that 
this  sermon  has  not  been  preserved,  and  that  the 
above  meagre  statement,  taken  from  the  Columbian 
Centinel,  Boston,  is  all  that  can  be  known  by  us  con- 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  45 

cerning  services  which   must   have   been    so  deeply 
interesting.*^ 

This  House,  as  dedicated,  contained  Seventy-eight 
pews  on  the  lower  floor,  and  Twenty-two  in  the  gal- 
lery;  but  these  latter  were  not,  I  suppose,  equally 
distributed  on  each  side,  as  in  1828  it  was  "Voted, 
That  the  Committee  build  Six  new  pews  in  the  East- 
ern gallery,  if  they  find  it  necessary."  The  Pulpit 
was  high  and  circular  in  form,  and  over  it  was  sus- 
pended a  Sounding  Board.  The  old  style  square 
pews  prevailed  entirely  on  the  lower  floor,  and  were 
elaborately  wrought  in  panel  work.*^    The  seats,  for 

45  The  full  account  given  in  the  "  Colu?}ibia  Centinel,  Boston, 
October  11,  1806,"  is  as  follows:  "Dedication.  On  Thurs- 
day last,  the  new  and  elegant  Meeting-House  erected  in  Glou- 
cester  (Cape  Ann)  by  the  Society  of  Christians  believing  in  the 
Universal  Salvation  of  men,  was  solemnly  Dedicated  to  the 
Author  of  that  Salvation.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Murray,  of  Boston, 
read  the  introductory  service,  and  made  the  Dedication  and 
concluding  Prayers ;  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones,  (the  Pastor  of  the 
Society),  delivered  an  excellent  sermon,  from  Ephesians  ii: 
19,  20,  21,  '  Now,  therefore,  ye  are  no  more  strangers  and  for- 
eigners, but  fellow-citizens  with  the  saints  and  of  the  house- 
hold of  God  J  and  are  built  upon  the  foundation  of  the  apostles 
and  prophets,  fesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner- 
stone j  in  who7n  all  the  buildijig  fitly  framed  together,  groweth 
unto  an  holy  temple  in  the  Lord'  The  services  were  inter- 
spersed with  music  from  an  excellent  choir.  The  House  is 
capacious,  and  completely  finished,  and  has  a  beautiful  spire  ; 
and  the  whole  work  has  been  executed  in  a  style  which  confers 
honor  on  the  architect,  and  shows  the  liberality  of  the  Society. 
The  bell  is  from  the  Revere  foundery  of  Canton." 

46  In  this  discourse,  as  read  at  the  celebration,  I  said  of  these 
pews,  "The  top  style  and  cap  rested  on  a  series  of  upright 
rounds,  which  were  occasionally  turned  about  by  some  indif- 
ferent hearer,  or  mischievous  boy,  and  emitted  disagreeable 
squeaks."  In  this  I  was  mistaken.  It  was  true  of  the  old 
Meeting  House,  and  not  of  the  one  erected  in  1806. 


46  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

the  convenience  of  turning  them  back,  and  so  mak- 
ing more  room  as  the  congregation  rose  in  prayer, 
were  hung  on  hinges,  and  the  clatter  made  by  letting 
them  down,  especially  when  the  children,  who  de- 
lighted in  that  part  of  the  exercise,  took  the  matter 
in  hand,  is  said  to  have  borne  no  small  resemblance 
to  an  irregular  discharge  of  musketry ;  which  at 
length  became  so  annoying  that  the  Society  "Voted, 
To  request  the  pew  owners  to  fasten  down,  or  other- 
wise prevent  their  seats  falling  so  hard  as  to  disturb 
the  meeting." 

The  same  style  of  pews  were  built  in  the  front  of 
the  galleries,  while  at  the  rear  were  long  benches. 
These  gallery  pews  were  favorite  resorts  for  the 
children,  and  their  presence  in  them,  only  manifest 
by  the  noise  made  —  since  the  pews  were  so  high 
that  the  small  people  could  not  be  seen  —  was  the 
occasion  for  frequent  legislation  in  the  Society  meet- 
ings. In  1809  it  was  "Voted,  that  Mr.  Benjamin 
Stacy  have  the  use  of  the  pew  in  the  gallery  which 
remains  unsold,  provided  he  will  take  care  of  those 
boys  in  the  gallery,  and  keep  them  in  order."  It 
seems  to  have  been  more  than  Mr.  Stacy  could  do  ; 
and  so  the  next  year  "a  committee  of  four  was  ap- 
pointed to  preserve  order."  The  following  year  a 
committee  of  seven  was  chosen,  "for  the  special  pur- 
pose of  noticing  any  rude  or  unbecoming  behaviour, 
either  of  the  boys  or  girls,  during  services,  by  writing 
their  names  in  their  pencil  books  and  informing  their 
Parents,  Masters  or  Mistresses,  as  the  case  may  be, 
of  such  conduct,  in  writing,  and  requesting  them  to 
punish  them  for  the  same."  This  seems  to  have 
reached  the  case,  for  thereafter,  one  man,  who  was 
paid  Fifteen  dollars  a  year  for  his  services,  was  able 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  47 

to  maintain  order  in  the  gallery.  Armed  with  a  long 
wand,  on  one  end  of  which  was  a  large  feather,  and 
on  the  other  end  a  gilded  knob,  this  guardian  of  the 
peace  moved  quietly  through  the  galleries,  brushing 
the  faces  of  the  rude  girls  with  the  feather,  and 
bringing  the  gilded  knob  vigorously  down  on  the 
heads  of  the  refractory  boys. 

The  Bell  which  still  hangs  in  the  tower  was  placed 
there  before  the  day  of  Dedication.  For  many  years 
it  was  the  only  large  bell  in  town,  and  was  long 
spoken  of  as  "The  heavy  bell  of  the  New  Meeting 
House."  Its  constant  service  these  sixty-eight  years 
indicates  the  good  quality  of  its  material. 

The  Clock  which  projects  from  the  gallery  was 
also  an  original  part  of  the  furnishing  of  the  house 
by  the  Subscribers.  At  least  it  is  remembered,  by  a 
gentleman  now  present,  to  have  been  there  the  year 
that  the  House  was  dedicated. 

At  the  rear  of  the  house  was  a  small  one  story 
building  known  as  "The  Vestry."  It  was  provided 
with  a  fire-place,  was  used  for  ordinary  Society  meet- 
ings, for  the  Sunday  School  when  that  was  first  or- 
ganized, and  for  some  time  was  rented  for  a  day 
school.  Its  full  size  may  be  seen  by  a  glance  at  the 
Organ  loft,  which  is  but  another  story  added  to  the 
original  frame. 

No  provision  was  made  for  heating  the  Meeting 
House  till  Christmas,  1820,  when  stoves  were  used 
for  the  first  time.*^  Prior  to  this,  and  some  extended 
the  custom  a  few  years   longer,  the  elderly   people 

47  This  innovation  was  stoutly  resisted  by  a  few,  on  the  plea 
that  the  air  would  be  rendered  unhealthy,  and  sickness  would 
be  caused.  One  who  was  present  at  the  first  service  after  the 
stoves  were  put  in,  but  when,  owing  to  a  lack  of  stove-pipe,  no 


48  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

and  the  ladies  brought  foot-stoves,  or  hot  bricks  or 
stones,  to  keep  their  feet  from  freezing,  and  bravely 
bore  the  cold  in  other  parts  of  their  body. 

Candles  at  first  furnished  the  lights  for  evening 
services.  These  were  placed  chiefly  on  the  pulpit 
and  the  gallery  in  front  of  the  singers'  seats,  and  in 
two  or  more  chandeliers  which  were  suspended  from 
the  ceiling.  These  chandeliers  were  superseded  by 
a  large  one,  fitted  with  lamps,  in  1823,  at  an  expense 
of  One  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars.  It  was  a 
grand  affair,  as  the  remnants  of  it,  still  preserved  in 
the  attic,  will  show,  and  suspended  by  its  gilded  rope, 
was  a  wonder  and  delight,  especially  to  the  young 
people.  At  the  same  time  ornamental  branches  were 
placed  on  each  side  of  the  pulpit,  each  containing 
three  large  lamps. 

No  instrumental  music  was  used  in  this  house  till 
1814,  when  a  Bass  viol  was  purchased,  not  without 
considerable  opposition,  however,  at  such  an  innova- 
tion ;  and  was  in  a  few  years  followed  by  Clarionets 
and  Violins,  which  were  continued  in  use  till  1826, 
when  an  Organ  was  procured,  which,  after  Thirty 
years'  service,  gave  place  to  the  present  Organ,  first 
used  July  31,  1856,  a  Concert  being  then  given  by 
the  "School  street  Choir,"  of  Boston.  Vocal  music 
received  early  attention,  and  liberal  provision  was 
made  for  it  from  the  treasury.  The  singers'  seats 
were  always  well  filled,  and  under  the  leadership  of 
Thomas  Ireland,  Samuel  Friend,  John  and  Denmark 
Procter,  the  singing  was  powerful  and  spirited. 
Relly's  Hymns  continued  to  be  used  till  1808,  when 

fires  were  made,  relates  that  during  the  service  several  of  the 
ladies,  and  among  them  the  wife  of  the  minister,  fainted,  and 
had  to  be  taken  into  the  open  air  before  they  could  recover. 


HISTORICAL     DISCOURSE.  49 

the  Society,  through  a  Committee,  of  which  WilHam 
Saville  was  Chairman,  pubhshed  a  collection.  The 
last  hymn  in  the  book  was  written  by  Mr.  Saville, 
and  the  others  were  selections  from  Relly,  Watts  and 
others.^s  This  book  was  in  use  till  1838,  when  it 
gave  place  to  the  Collection  compiled  by  Rev.  Hosea 
Ballou,  2nd,  which  in  turn  was  superseded,  in  1855, 
by  the  book  now  used,  Adams  and  Chapin's. 

At  the  first  Sabbath  service  in  this  house,  October 
1 2th,  1806,  Clara  Sargent,  an  infant  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Pearce,  jr.,  was  Dedicated  to  the  Love  and  Ser- 
vice of  God ;  a  Ceremonial  instituted  by  Rev.  John 
Murray,  and  probably  first  observed  by  him,  at  least 
frequently  observed  by  him,  in  this  town.  Baptism, 
he  said,  was  wholly  connected  with  Profession  of 
Faith,  and  as  such  profession  could  not  be  made  for 
another,  least  of  all  for  infants,  he  would  not  bap- 
tize infants.  But  he  thought  it  seemly  and  wise  to 
acknowledge  children  as  God's  gift,  and  to  Dedicate 
them,  as  such,  to  God's  love.^^  Mr.  Jones  saw  no  im- 
propriety in  the  use  of  water  in  this  ceremony ;  and 
in  this  I  suppose  that  the  pastors  who  have  suc- 
ceeded him  have  agreed.  At  all  events,  either  with 
or  without  the  use  of  water,  the  Dedication  of  chil- 
dren has  been  observed  by  the  Universalists  of  Glou- 
cester for  nearly,  if  not  quite  a  century. 

On  the  same  first  Sabbath,  measures  were  taken 
for  the  organization  of  the  body  of  Communicants 
into  a  Church  distinct  from  the  mere  business  Society 
created  by  the  Act  of  Incorporation.  On  the  23d 
of  the  following  November,  a  Covenant  and  Articles 
of  Faith  were  adopted  by  the  male  members  of  the 

48  See  Appendix  S. 

«  See  Appendix  T. 


50  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Society,  and  Thirty-three  persons,  Nine  Men  and 
Twenty-four  Women,  organized  under  them  as  a 
Church.so  The  first  Wardens,  or  Deacons,  were 
Isaac  and  Payne  Elwell.  The  business  of  the  Church 
was  wholly  in  the  hands  of  the  male  members,  which 
the  worthy  pastor  never  ceased  to  regret,  and  to  fight 
against ;  some  of  his  recorded  resolves  and  protests  be- 
ing very  vigorous  and  decided  ;  but  the  chief  opposition 
to  a  change  coming  from  the  proscribed  sex  them- 
selves, no  change  was  made  until  the  reorganization 
of  the  Church,  thirty-two  years  later.  Mr.  Jones  has 
also  left  on  record  his  firm  convictions  in  favor  of  an 
Open  Celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  a  belief  that 
this  Ordinance  of  the  Gospel  is  no  more  sacred  than 
are  the  Doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and  that  all  mem- 
bers of  a  Christian  congregation  should  have  a  right 
to  the  Communion  without  the  intervention  of  Cere- 
mony. These  views  he  urged  upon  the  Church,  but 
failed  to  obtain  their  endorsement.  Succeeding 
pastors  have  held  various  opinions  on  this  subject. 
The  Church,  though  passing  through  several  modifi- 
cations, has  continued  to  the  present,  never  a  large 
body,  but  always  a  recognized  power  and  influence  in 
the  religious  life  of  the  congregation. 

In  1811  an  event  occurred  connected  with  the  his- 
tory of  Universalism  in  Gloucester,  which  gave  sud- 
den strength  to  the  cause  here,  and  great  rejoicing 
to  its  professors  everywhere.  The  Third  (Annis- 
quam)  Parish  had  settled  as  its  Pastor,  in  1804,  Rev. 
Ezra  Leonard,  a  graduate  of  Brown  University,  and 
a  student  in  orthodox  theology  with  Rev.  Perez 
Fobes,  LL.D.,  of  Taunton.  Finding  in  his  congre- 
gation at  Annisquam  a  number  of  persons  who  had 

50  See  Appendix  U. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  5  I 

embraced  the  doctrine  of  Universalism,  and  being 
often  brought  in  contact  with  Mr.  Jones  on  funeral 
occasions,  he  was  of  necessity  frequently  engaged  in 
arguments  and  conversations  on  the  subject  of  Uni- 
versal Salvation.  Among  the  MSS.  of  Mr.  Leonard, 
which  have  come  into  my  possession,  I  find  a  frag- 
ment of  what  I  suppose  to  have  been  the  first  Ser- 
mon which  he  preached  after  being  convinced  of  the 
truth  of  Universalism.  In  this  he  enumerates  the 
Works  and  Arguments  for  and  against  the  Doctrine, 
which  he  had  read,  and  with  which  he  had  made  him- 
self familiar.  He  then  adds :  ''  About  six  months 
ago  I  put  them  all  aside,  and  began  to  search  the 
Scriptures  anew,  prayerfully  and  very  attentively. 
And  at  present  I  am  convinced  by  the  Spirit  of 
Truth  which  I  find  there,  that  Grace  will  reign  as 
universally  as  sin  has  reigned."  The  result  of  this 
avowal  was,  that  a  very  few  of  the  parish  withdrew 
from  his  ministry,  while  the  great  majority,  having 
confidence  in  their  pastor  as  an  honest  and  learned 
man,  remained.  The  only  action  taken  in  Parish 
Meeting  was  a  vote,  passed  in  December,  1811,  ''that 
he  should  continue  to  preach  to  them  till  the  next 
March  meeting."  At  the  March  meeting  the  oppo- 
sition was  feeble,  and  he  continued  to  be  the  Parish 
Minister  till  his  death  in  1832.  Dying,  he  left  no 
enemies,  but  is  remembered  as  a  faithful  Christian 
Minister,  richly  imbued  with  the  Spirit  of  his  Master. 
His  successors  in  the  pastorate  have  all  been  Uni- 
versalists,  and  the  society,  though  weakened  by 
deaths  and  removals,  still  preserves  its  integrity  and 
zeal.^i 

51  The  Ministers  of  the  Society  since  Mr.  Leonard's  death, 
with  the  dates  of  their   settlement,  have  been,  Abraham  Nor- 


52  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

The  War  of  1812  was  a  time  of  severe  trial  to  this 
Society,  as  the  business  of  the  town  was  at  once 
destroyed,  and  the  inhabitants  were  nearly  equally 
divided  in  sentiment,  the  anti-war  party  being 
slightly  in  the  ascendant  when  the  difficulties  com- 
menced. All  the  Churches  suffered,  and  it  became 
a  burden  and  sacrifice  to  maintain  the  preached  word. 
It  was  found  necessary  to  reduce  Mr.  Jones'  salary,  and 
at  one  time  it  seemed  inevitable  that  the  meetings 
must  cease,  so  small  was  the  attendance,  so  absorb- 
ing were  the  political  troubles.  But  there  were 
brave  and  true  men  who  stood  by,  and  who  were 
more  than  sufficient  for  the  demands  of  the  occasion. 
The  Patriotism  of  the  pastor  was  of  the  highest 
order.  He  knew  by  the  contrast  gained  in  personal 
experience,  how  great  were  the  political  blessings  in 
the  land  of  his  adoption;  and  "the  claim  of  Great 
Britain  to  the  Right  of  Impressing  Seamen,  is,"  he 
declared,  "as  absurd  and  wicked  as  is  the  claim  of 
the  Southern  Planter  to  Ownership  in  man  ; "  a  com- 
parison which  shows  his  hatred  of  that  which  he  so 
often  denounced  in  no  measured  terms  within  these 
walls  —  American  Slavery.  His  Sermon  preached  on 
the  occasion  of  a  Special  Fast  appointed  by  the  Pres- 
ident, in  1813,  has  the  ring  of  an  old  anti-slavery 
Oration. 

Just  after  the  Treaty  of  Peace,  the  society  was 
called  to  mourn  the  death  of  their  first  pastor. 
Many  of  the  early  friends   of   Mr.  Murray  had  died, 

wood,  1832;  Elbridge  Trull,  1833;  John  Harriman,  1834; 
George  C.  Leach,  1837;  Maxcy  B.  Newell,  1842;  Joseph  A. 
Bartlett,  1845;  Benjamin  H.  Clark,  1847;  E.  W.  Coffin,  1848; 
N.  Gunnison,  1854;  Emmons  Partridge,  1857 ;  Lewis  L.  Record, 
1859;  J.  H.  TuUer,  1863;  J.  H.  Willis,  1865;  F.  A.  Benton, 
1868;  William  Hooper,  1871. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  53 

but  quite  a  number  remained,  to  whom  his  death, 
September  3d,  181 5,  although  the  event  had  long 
been  looked  for,  brought  deep  grief,  Mr.  Jones  offi- 
ciated at  the  Funeral,  and,  by  special  request, 
preached  in  Boston  the  following  Sunday ;  and  then 
by  desire  of  the  Society  here,  preached  a  Commemo- 
rative Discourse  in  this  house,  the  Sunday  after. 
So  much  of  the  Funeral  Oration,  and  of  these  two 
Discourses  as  contain  special  allusions  to  Mr.  Murray, 
are  preserved,  but  have  never  been  put  in  print. ^^ 

In  the  Spring  of  18 19  Mr.  Jones  commenced  a 
series  of  Twelve  Short  Sermons  to  the  Children. 
From  1807  it  had  been  his  custom  to  give  at  least 
two  such  sermons  each  year ;  but  a  result  followed 
this  last  and  special  course,  which  probably  had  not 
been  sought  before.  It  was  the  Establishment  of  the 
Sunday  School,  June  25th,  1820,  which  has  continued 
to  the  present  time.  Dr.  William  Ferson  was  the 
first  Superintendent.  As  it  is  not  long  since  I  gave 
a  Historical  sketch  of  the  School,  I  need  make  no 
further  mention  of  it  here,  save  to  say  that  I  believe 
it  to  have  been  the  Third  Sunday  School  organized 
by  Universalists,  and  since  1826  the  oldest  school  in 
the  denomination.^^ 

October  3d,  1824,  a  meeting  of  the  congregation 
was  held,  at  the  suggestion  of  Benjamin  K.  Hough, 
to  consider  the  propriety  of  observing  the  approach- 
ing Semi-Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  First  Preach- 
ing of  Rev.  John  Murray  in  Gloucester.  The  Pastor 
proposed  that  the  whole  day  be  used  in  Religious 
Services,  which  was  unanimously  agreed  to,  and  Rev. 
Thomas  Jones  and   Col.  William   Pearce  were  asso- 

52  See  Appendix  V. 

53  See  Appendix  W. 


54  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

ciated  with  William  Babson,  jr.,  William  Collins  and 
Samuel  Pearce,  the  Parish  Committee  that  year,  to 
make  the  necessary  arrangements. 

Fifty  years  ago  to-day  the  Celebration  took  place. 
All  the  Ministers  specially  invited  were  in  attendance 
except  Rev.  Messrs.  Hosea  Ballouand  Edward  Turner. 
The  Morning  Services  were  conducted  by  Rev. 
Thomas  Whittemore,  of  Cambridgeport,  who  offered 
Prayer  and  made  a  brief  Introductory  Address  ;  Rev. 
Paul  Dean,  of  Boston,  who  read  the  Scriptures  and 
preached  a  Sermon  from  i  Samuel  vii  :  12,  "Hitherto 
hath  the  Lord  helped  us  "  ;  and  Rev.  Zelotes  Fuller, 
of  Charlton,  who  made  the  Concluding  Prayer.  In 
the  Afternoon,  the  first  Prayer  was  made  by  Rev. 
Barzillia  Streeter,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.  ;  the  Sermon  by 
Rev.  Sebastian  Streeter,  of  Boston,  from  i  Cor.  ii  :  10  ; 
and  the  Closing  Prayer  by  Rev.  Ezra  Leonard,  of 
Annisquam.  The  Evening  Services  commenced  with 
Prayer  by  Rev.  Hubbard  H.  Winchester,  of  Wil- 
mington, Vt.  ;  the  Sermon  was  by  Rev.  Hosea  Ballou, 
2nd,  of  Roxbury,  from  Isaiah  Ix  :  2,  3,  4 ;  and  the 
Concluding  Prayer  by  Rev.  Thomas  G.  Farnsworth, 
of  Newton. 

Including  the  Pastor  of  the  Society,  there  were 
Ten  Preachers  in  attendance,  all  of  whom,  except 
Rev.  Thomas  G.  Farnsworth,  who  is  with  us  to-day. 
Rev.  Zelotes  Fuller,  now  residing  in  Philadelphia, 
and  Rev.  Hubbard  H.  Winchester,  living  in  Iowa, 
have  passed  on  to  their  Heavenly  rest.  It  was  a  day 
of  great  rejoicing  to  the  society.  The  congregations 
were  large  at  each  service,  and  the  singing  on  the 
occasion  was  spoken  of  in  the  highest  terms.  Fifty 
singers  occupied  the  gallery,  and  extra  instruments 
were  brought   into   use  ;  the  whole  being  under  the 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  55 

lead  of  John  and  Denmark  Procter.  Mr.  Jones  has 
recorded  that  the  first  hymn  sung  after  the  opening 
Anthem,  in  the  Morning,  was  the  one  commencing : 

"  Blow  ye  the  trumpet,  blow 

The  gladly  solemn  sound  ! 
Let  all  the  nations  know, 

To  earth's  remotest  bound, 
The  year  of  jubilee  is  come; 
Return,  ye  ransom'd  sinners,  home." 

Rev.  Paul  Dean  was  instructed  to  prepare  an  ac- 
count of  the  Exercises  for  the  Universalist  period- 
ical publications,  and  to  express  therein  ''the  hope 
and  belief  that  the  semi-century  returns  of  this  day 
will  be  celebrated  with  religious  gratitude  and  joy 
until  Christ  shall  have  an  altar  in  every  place,  and 
at  every  altar  an  herald  of  salvation  ministering  to 
his  redeemed."  ^^ 

In  1830  another  Universalist  Congregation  was 
gathered  in  the  town,  in  the  Second,  or  West,  Parish. 
Rev.  Daniel  Fuller,  who  had  settled  there  in  1770, 
and  whose  active  ministry  continued  for  Fifty-three 
years,  died  in  1829.  In  the  Warrant  for  the  Annual 
Parish  Meeting  following  his  death,  this  Article  was 
inserted  :  ''  To  know  of  what  Denomination  the  Par- 
ish will  be  most  united."  The  vote  was  just  three 
to  one  in  favor  of  the  Universalist  Denomination. 
Rev.  Calvin  Gardner  was,  I  believe,  the  first  Minister 
under  this  vote,  and  his  support  was  provided  for  by 
subscriptions.  The  following  year  the  Parish  voted 
to  assess  a  tax,  and  to  grant  to  each  person  assessed 
"  the  privilege  of  having  his  own  money  appropriated 
to  support  Ministers  of  his  own  Denomination." 
Under  this  just  arrangement  there  was,  of  course,  a 
54  See  Appendix  X. 


56  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

variety  of  preaching,  but  by  far  the  greater  part  of 
it  was  by  Universalists.  The  so-called  Orthodox 
portion  of  the  parish  withdrawing  about  this  time 
and  organizing  a  new  Society,  the  meetings  in  the 
Old  House  of  Worship  were  thereafter  conducted  by 
the  Universalists,  who  continued  meetings  a  portion 
of  each  year  till  1846,  when  the  house,  erected  in 
1 7 16,  having  become  greatly  out  of  repair,  was  sold 
and  removed.  The  purchaser  worked  most  of  the 
timber  into  a  new  building,  afterwards  called  "  Lib- 
erty Hall,"  where  a  Society  of  Universalists  has  been 
organized,  a  Sunday  School  is  held  every  Sunday, 
and  preaching  is  had  a  portion  of  each  year.^^ 

55  The  Universalist  preachers  at  West  Parish  since  1830, 
until  the  arrangement  under  the  old  Parish  organization  ceased, 
in  1843,  were  Rev.  Messrs.  William  A.  Stickney,  Ezra  Leonard, 
Robert  L.  Killam,  Joseph  P.  Atkinson,  Henry  Belding,  Charles 
Galaca,  George  G.  Strickland,  James  M.  Usher,  Thomas  Jones, 
William  Hooper,  Henry  C.  Leonard,  John  M.  Spear. 

A  Farewell  Service  was  held  in  the  Old  Meeting  House, 
Sunday  afternoon,  September  7,  1846,  Rev.  A.  D.  Mayo  preach- 
ing the  sermon,  on  Continuance  in  well  doing ;  text,  Gal.  vi :  9. 
The  following  hymn,  written  by  Mrs.  S.  C.  E.  Mayo  for  the 
occasion,  was  sung ; 

Thy  temple,  God,  not  built  with  hands. 
Unharmed  through  endless  ages  stands  ; 
Its  great  dome  still  in  glory  spreads 
Its  myriad  star-lights  o'er  our  heads. 

Its  columned  aisles  with  music  ring, 
Poured  forth  by  every  living  thing ; 
Ocean  its  awful  anthem  roars, 
And  winds  sigh  soft  along  its  shores. 

But  Thou,  though  worshipped  day  and  night 
In  fanes  of  boundless  breadth  and  height, 
Wilt  hear  a  simple  song  and  prayer. 
Breathed  from  a  true  heart  anywhere. 


FORBES   CO. 


REV.    DANIEL    D.    SMITH. 
Third  Pastor  (Associate  with  Dr.  Jones),  1838-1841, 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  57 

Whether  it  was  on  account  of  the  evident  spread 
of  Universalism  on  the  Cape,  or  from  some  other 
reason,  I  have  no  means  of  knowing,  but  at  this 
period  of  its  ascendancy  in  the  Second  Parish,  great 
zeal  was  manifest  by  several  sects  in  sending  Mis- 
sionaries to  Gloucester,  some  of  whom  caused  most 
abusive  articles  to  be  written  and  circulated  in  the 
religious  papers  of  the  state.  A  paper  called  the 
"  Anti-Universalist  "  was  printed  in  Providence,  R.  I., 
in  an  early  number  of  which  appeared  one  of  these 
articles,  charging  that  the  Universalists  of  this  town 
were  drunkards  and  immoral,  and  declaring  that  it 
was  notorious  that  Murray  was  grossly  immoral  while 
residing  here.  So  sweeping  a  charge  killed  itself, 
and  so  roused  the  indignation  of  those  who  honestly 
opposed  Universalism,  that,  through  their  instru- 
mentality, the  paper  fell  into  such  disrepute  as  to 
speedily  lose  its  supporters  and  its  life.  A  Mission- 
ary sent  from  Salem  made  a  lamentable  report  that 
**at  the  Squam  Sabbath  School  no  book  but  the  Bible 
is  in  use,"  and  he  was  "  sorry  to  say  that  the  School 
is  under  very  bad  influence."  This  was  an  unfortu- 
nate statement,  in  view  of  what  the  Missionary  was 

E'en  here,  beneath  this  mouldering  roof, 
Far  from  the  crowded  world  aloof, 
Mid  these  old  aisles,  so  worn  and  grey, 
E'en  here  our  souls  may  sing  and  pray. 

May  those  old  sires  who  built  this  fane, 
In  spirit  meet  with  us  again; 
And  blending  their  high  souls  with  ours, 
Make  this  the  hoHest  of  life's  hours. 

And  may  the  soft  winds,  breathing  through 
This  old  church,  from  the  waters  blue, 
Bear  up  to  Heaven  as  pure  a  strain 
As  ever  rose  from  royal  fane. 


58  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER, 

seeking,  and  all  his  work  came  to  nought.  An  Agent 
of  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society  came  here, 
and  in  his  published  report  said  of  Universalism, 
that  "at  Cape  Ann,  it  issues  from  every  dark  cavern 
there,  and  is  echoed  by  every  rock  and  shrub  that 
deforms  the  fair  face  of  nature."  Mr.  Jones,  who 
was  an  ardent  lover  of  the  scenery  of  the  Cape,  pub- 
lished a  spirited  reply,  in  which  he  so  rebuked  the 
Agent's  want  of  appreciation  of  the  beauty  of  the 
coast,  as  also  so  clearly  exposed  his  ignorance  of 
what  he  was  attacking,  that  there  was  no  further 
opposition  of  that  kind. 

In  1837,  the  health  of  the  venerable  Pastor  being 
feeble,  a  special  meeting  was  called  in  December  to 
consider  the  propriety  of  soliciting  his  views  with 
regard  to  the  settlement  of  a  Colleague ;  and  three 
of  his  long-tried  friends,  Benjamin  K.  Hough,  Rich- 
ard Friend,  and  William  Pearce,  jr.,  having  reported 
for  him  that  such  a  step  would  be  perfectly  satisfac- 
tory, it  was  determined  that  measures  should  be 
taken  at  once,  to  either  obtain  a  supply  till  such  time 
as  Mr.  Jones  should  be  able  to  resume  his  duties,  or 
to  settle  an  Associate  Pastor. 

The  following  January,  a  Committee  who  had  been 
authorized  to  do  so,  extended  an  invitation  to  Rev. 
Matthew  Hale  Smith  to  settle  as  Colleague  with  Mr. 
Jones.  Mr.  Smith  declining  the  invitation,  "the 
Committee  were  instructed  to  supply  the  pulpit  with 
such  suitable  preachers  as  may  be  obtained  with  a 
view  of  securing  some  one  on  whom  the  society  can 
unite."  In  August  a  unanimous  invitation  was  ex- 
tended to  Rev.  Daniel  D.  Smith,  of  Portland,  Me., 
who  accepted,  his  labors  to  commence  as  soon  as  he 
could  make   satisfactory  arrangements   at    Portland. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  59 

The  Society  having  already  voted  to  make  an  altera- 
tion in  their  House  of  Worship,  at  once  perfected 
their  plans,  and  the  work  was  finished  before  the 
installation  of  the  new  pastor.  The  square  pews 
were  all  removed  from  the  lower  floor,  and  Ninety- 
eight  pews,  of  about  nine  feet  each  in  length,  took 
their  place,  giving  a  gain  of  Twenty  pews.  Nine- 
teen of  these  pews  were  sold,  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  the  alteration,  the  remaining  one  being  kept  by 
the  Society.  The  old  Pulpit  was  also  taken  down, 
and  a  more  modern  one  was  built. 

Mr.  Smith  was  Installed  as  Junior  Pastor,  Decem- 
ber 20th,  1838.  The  Installing  Prayer  was  by  Rev. 
Thomas  Jones,  and  the  Sermon  by  Rev.  Otis  A. 
Skinner,  of  Boston.^^ 

The  popular  talents  of  Mr.  Smith  at  once  drew  in 
a  larger  congregation  than  could  be  accommodated 
with  sittings.  To  remedy  this,  the  Society  voted  on 
the  29th  of  January,  1839,  "to  make  an  alteration  in 
the  gallery  by  which  they  could  obtain  Fifty-four 
pews,"  being  an  addition  of  Twenty-six  to  the  num- 
ber then  located  there.  This  was  no  sooner  done  than 
the  new  pews  were  sold  and  occupied  ;  and  for  sev- 
eral months  the  attendance  on  Public  Worship  was 
larger  than  ever  before.  A  movement  was  also  set 
on  foot  to  build  a  large  Vestry  and  School  House, 
stock  in  which  was  readily  taken  ;  and  a  commodious 
two-story  edifice,  called  the  ''Murray  Institute,"  was 
made  ready  for  Dedication,  October  31st,  1839.     This 

66  The  other  services  were :  Scripture  Readings,  Rev.  Charles 
Spear;  Introductory  Prayer,  Rev.  J.  M.  Austin;  Delivery  of 
the  Scriptures  and  Charge,  Rev.  Hosea  Ballou,  2nd;  Right 
Hand  of  Fellowship,  Rev.  Thomas  F.  King;  Address  to  the 
Society,  Rev.  Hosea  Ballou:  Concluding  Prayer,  Rev.  Samuel 
Brimblecome. 


60  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

was  located  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  Episcopal 
Church,  the  expense  of  land  and  building  being  about 
Forty-two  hundred  dollars.  The  **  Liberal  Institute," 
a  school  formerly  located  at  Methuen,  was  moved 
here  and  opened  in  the  new  building  in  November. 
Philosophical  and  scientific  lectures  were  given,  a 
large  amount  of  apparatus  was  bought,  an  extensive 
library  gathered,  and  the  social  as  well  as  the  relig- 
ious affairs  of  the  Society  seemed  to  be  in  as  pros- 
perous a  condition  as  the  most  sanguine  could  desire. 
But  in  the  midst  of  this  great  prosperity  came  the 
severest  trouble  and  disaster.  Difficulties  were  gath- 
ering which  soon  burst  with  volcanic  fury,  and 
threatened  utter  ruin.  This  hitherto  steadfast  and 
united  Society  was  shaken  and  disunited.  Friends 
who  had  always  been  one  in  all  good  aims  and  efforts, 
became  alienated  and  embittered  ;  families,  even, 
were  rent  asunder ;  and,  to  set  forth  in  few  words 
this  melancholy  part  of  our  history,  so  many  of  the 
Society  had  withdrawn,  and  so  large  a  number  of  the 
congregation  had  ceased  to  attend  his  ministry,  that 
Mr.  Smith  deemed  it  expedient  to  send  in  his  resig- 
nation in  October,  1840.  It  was  accepted;  but  sub- 
sequently, at  his  earnest  desire,  his  services  were 
continued  from  January,  1841,  till  the  Annual  Meet- 
ing in  April. 

The  friends  of  Mr.  Smith,  who  were  numerous  — 
and  among  them  were  some  of  the  most  useful  and 
influential  members  of  the  Society  —  withdrew  when 
he  ceased  to  preach  ;  and  not  long  after  formed  a 
new  organization,  called  the  "Independent  Univer- 
salist  Society,"  and  commenced  meetings  in  the 
Murray  Institute  Hall.  In  1843  they  invited  Mr. 
Smith    to   become    their   pastor,  and    in   September, 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  6l 

1845,  they  Dedicated  a  small  House  of  Worship,  on 
Elm  street,  which  they  had  built  at  an  expense  of 
about  Three  thousand  dollars.  A  Church  of  about 
forty  members  was  organized,  Richard  Friend,  jr., 
and  Joseph  Friend  being  the  Deacons.  Mr.  Smith 
continued  with  them  till  the  Summer  of  1848;  and 
the  following  year  was  succeeded  by  Rev,  David  H. 
Plumb,  who  remained  three  years.  In  April,  1853, 
Rev.  George  J.  Sanger  became  their  pastor,  and 
preached  his  farewell  discourse,  March,  1856.  The 
dissolution  of  the  Society  soon  followed  the  close  of 
his  services,  and  in  1858  the  property  was  sold  to  the 
Methodists. 

From  April,  1841,  till  December,  1842,  this  Soci- 
ety had  preaching,  a  large  portion  of  the  time,  from 
ministers  living  near.  An  arrangement  was  made 
with  Mr.  Jones,  in  May,  1841,  by  which  his  connec- 
tion as  Pastor  was  dissolved ;  the  Society  making 
provision  for  his  maintenance  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  and  for  the  support  of  his  wife  if  she 
should  survive  him.^''  His  health  was  gradually  fail- 
ing, the  troubles  of  the  Society  were  a  source  of 
great  annoyance  to  him,  and  he  was  no  longer  equal 
to  the  work  which  the  circumstances  demanded. 
Mutual  love  and  confidence  and  interestedness  dic- 
tated the  separation,  and  the  same  feelings  charac- 
terized the  remainder  of  his  stay  upon  the  earth. 
For  some  little  time  after  his  release  from  duty  as 
pastor,  he  was  able  to  preach  occasionally,  in  places 

57  The  sum  of  ^400  per  annum  was  settled  on  Mr.  Jones,  and 
^200  on  his  wife,  if  she  should  survive  him.  Mr.  Jones  kept 
very  accurate  records  of  his  ministerial  labors;  from  which 
I  ascertain  that  while  pastor  here  he  solemnized  658  Marriages, 
Baptized  711  Persons,  and  attended  1162  Funerals. 


62  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

not  far  distant  from  home.  When  here  on  Sunday 
a  seat  was  reserved  for  him  in  the  pulpit,  on  account 
of  his  great  deafness,  and  he  frequently  took  part  in 
the  services,  especially  in  the  Administration  of  the 
Lord's  Supper.  His  last  service  of  this  kind,  and,  I 
suppose,  his  last  religious  service  of  any  kind,  in 
public,  was  on  Sunday,  November  3d,  1844. 

In  March,  1843,  the  Society  invited  Rev.  Frederic 
F.  Thayer,  of  Cambridge,  who  had  supplied  the  pul- 
pit the  preceding  three  months,  to  become  its  pas- 
tor. The  Invitation  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Thayer 
was  Installed  on  the  28th  of  that  month.  Rev.  Otis 
A.  Skinner  preaching  the  Sermon.^^  It  was  Mr. 
Thayer's  first  settlement,  and  to  his  office  he  brought 
a  well-cultivated  mind  and  a  warm  and  zealous  heart. 
His  pulpit  services  were  acceptable  and  the  Church 
records  show  a  quickened  religious  interest  and  an 
increase  in  the  number  of  Communicants.  But  the 
circumstances  peculiar  to  that  time  of  division  and 
estrangement  were  not  favorable  to  such  results  as 
fire  the  ambition  of  an  earnest  pastor.  Measures 
which  were  taken  for  the  reconciliation  and  return 
of  those  who  had  separated  from  the  Society  failed 
of  accomplishing  their  object.  Annoying  debts  had 
accumulated,  and   discouragements   were   numerous. 

58  The  other  services  were :  Reading  of  the  Scriptures,  Rev. 
Maxey  B.  Newell;  Introductory  Prayer,  Rev.  Thomas  B. 
Thayer;  Installing  Prayer,  Rev.  T.  P.  Abell ;  Charge  and  De- 
livery of  the  Scriptures,  and  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship,  Rev. 
E.  G.  Brooks;  Address  to  the  Society,  Rev.  L.  S.  Everett; 
Concluding  Prayer,  Rev.  Hosea  Ballou.  The  hymns,  three  in 
number,  were  written  for  the  occasion ;  one  by  Rev.  J.  G. 
Adams,  the  715th  hymn  in  Adams  and  Chapin's  Collection; 
one  by  Rev.  E.  H.  Chapin,  the  710th  hymn  in  the  same  collec- 
tion, and  one  by  Rev.  Hosea  Ballou. 


HISTORICAL     DISCOURSE.  65 

Under  these  circumstances,  and  impelled  by  them, 
Mr.  Thayer  tendered  his  resignation  in  September, 
1844,  and  his  connection  with  the  Society  ceased  in 
December.^^ 

From  this  time  until  the  next  Annual  Meeting,  the 
Society  devoted  its  energies  to  the  payment  of  its 
debts,  amounting  to  about  Twenty-three  hundred 
dollars.  Being  successful  in  this,  it  extended  an 
invitation,  in  June,  1845,  to  Rev.  Henry  B.  Soule,  of 
Boston,  to  become  its  pastor.  Accepting  the  invita- 
tion, Mr.  Soule  at  once  commenced  his  work,  which, 
however,  was  of  brief  duration ;  for  in  October  he 
informed  the  Committee  that  he  was  discontented 
in  Gloucester,  and  had  been  from  the  first,  and  being 
thus  in  no  condition  to  do  justice  either  to  the  Soci- 
ety or  to  himself,  he  desired  them  to  accept  his 
resignation,  to  take  effect  at  the  close  of  the  quarter, 
in  December.  Action  on  this  resignation  seems  to 
have  been  deferred  until  the  Annual  Meeting  the 
following  April,  when  it  was  accepted.^® 

Rev.  Amory  D.  Mayo,  of  Warwick,  was  invited  to 
the  pastorate  in  June,  1846,  and  commenced  his  min- 
istry here,  which  was  also  his  first  pastoral  settle- 
ment, in  July.  He  had  not  been  here  a  month  when 
this  house  was  heavily  draped  in  mourning,  and  all 
its  spaces  were  occupied  by  an  immense  throng,  who 
gathered  in  great  respect  and  affection  to  perform 

59  The  other  pastoral  settlements  of  Mr.  Thayer  were  at 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  1844;  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  1845.  In  1847,  Mr. 
Thayer,  in  consequence  of  a  severe  affection  of  the  throat,  left 
the  ministry  and  w'ent  into  secular  business. 

60  Mr.  Soule  was  subsequently  settled  at  Hartford,  Conn., 
1846;  Granby,  Conn.,  1851;  Lyons,  N.  Y.,  January,  1852,  where 
he  died,  after  a  very  brief  illness,  with  the  small-pox,  on  the  30th 
of  that  month. 


64  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

the  funeral  rites  of  the  venerable  Man  of  God  who 
for  Forty-two  years  had  been  so  intimately  identified 
with  the  Church  and  with  the  history  of  the  town. 
Father  Jones,  after  long  confinement  to  his  house 
and  gradually  yielding  to  the  slow  decay  which  waits 
upon  advanced  age,  "put  off  this  tabernacle  of  flesh" 
and  entered  "into  the  house  not  made  with  hands," 
on  the  20th  of  August.  Two  days  after,  his  mortal 
remains,  borne  on  the  hands  of  long  tried  and  faithful 
friends,  were  brought  hither  and  the  new  pastor,  in 
well-chosen  words,  preached  a  discourse  from  the 
passage  of  Holy  Writ  which  was  of  all  others  most 
eminently  suitable  for  the  occasion  :  "  Mark  the  per- 
fect man,  and  behold  the  upright;  for  the  end  of 
that  man  is  peace." — Psalm  xxxvii :  37.^^ 

«l  The  following   Hymn,  written  for  the  occasion  by  Mrs. 
S.  C.  E.  Mayo,  was  sung  at  this  Service : 

"  Softly  breathe  the  low  lament 
O'er  the  aged  warrior,  spent ; 
Weary,  worn,  he  hath  lain  down, 
Sleeping  in  his  victor  crown. 

Bear  him  down  these  aisles  once  more, 
Gently  through  the  old  church  door; 
Let  the  green  trees  o'er  him  wave, 
In  his  slow  march  to  the  grave. 

Give  to  earth  its  solemn  trust ; 
Give  to  dust  its  kindred  dust; 
Lay  within  its  narrow  bed 
All  the  perishing  and  dead. 

But  the  life  that  made  its  shrine 
In  yon  pale  form,  was  divine  ! 
An  undying,  quenchless  flame, 
From  the  Lord  of  life  it  came  I 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  6$ 

Mr.  Mayo's  ministry  was  attended  with  many  grat- 
ifying results.  His  preaching  was  attractive,  instruc- 
tive and  profitable ;  the  attendance  at  Public  Wor- 
ship greatly  increased ;  there  were  no  discordant 
elements  in  the  Society,  but  a  large  measure  of  its 
former  united  and  prosperous  state  was  restored. 
The  only  hindrance  to  its  most  complete  success  was 
the  uncertain  and  frequently  feeble  condition  of  the 
pastor's  health.  This  sometimes  compelled  him  to 
ask  for  a  respite  from  his  labors ;  but  in  spite  of 
such  disadvantages  and  interruptions,  his  work  was 
blessed  to  him  here,  and  he  has,  we  trust,  been  able 
to  feel  what  so  many  others  see,  that  what  he  pre- 
pared for  the  enlightenment  and  faith  and  Christian 
growth  of  this  people,  has,  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  the  printed  page,  been  light,  and  cheer,  and 
strength  to  great  multitudes.  His  book  on  ''The 
Moral  Arguments  for  Universalism,"  made  up,  I  sup- 
pose, of  sermons  preached  here,  has  not  yet  finished 
its  work.  It  is  a  strong  and  unanswerable  statement, 
in  its  peculiar  line  of  reasoning,  of  the  utility,  phil- 
osophy and  reforming  power  of  our  Faith  in  God's 
Infinite  Love.  Another  volume  of  his  sermons  pre- 
pared for  this  people,  the  '*  Graces  and  Powers  of  the 
Christian  Life,"  is  also  an  honor  to  our  denomina- 
tional literature,  and   its   perusal   cannot  fail  to  in- 

It  hath  sought  its  source  above, 
In  the  Infinite  of  love  ! 
Where,  throughout  a  round  of  time, 
It  will  rise  through  heights  sublime  ! 

Through  the  ambient  fields  of  Heaven, 
Far,  even  now,  that  life  hath  striven ; 
Upward,  onward,  evermore, 
Will  the  Immortal  rise  and  soar  I " 


66  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

struct  and  help  Christian  people  of  every  name.  I 
find  also,  in  some  of  your  homes,  several  of  his  ser- 
mons preached  on  special  occasions,  which,  and  par- 
ticularly those  containing  lessons  drawn  from  the 
lives  of  the  older  members  of  the  Church,  several  of 
whom  passed  away  during  his  ministry,  are  highly 
prized,  and  will  be  faithfully  handed  down  to  others, 
and  through  them  the  fathers  shall  still  speak  to 
others  who  will  come  after  us. 

The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Mayo  was  brought  to  a  close 
on  the  1st  of  October,  1854,  by  his  own  request; 
from  a  conviction  that  an  opening  in  the  city  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  offered  him  an  opportunity  for 
building  up  a  Church  whose  influence  would  be 
widely  felt  in  the  great  West.^^ 

In  April,  1855,  the  Society  invited  Rev.  W.  R.  G. 
Mellen,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.  The  invitation  was  at 
once  accepted,  and  Mr.  Mellen  commenced  his  ser- 
vices in  May.  During  his  ministry  there  was  a  man- 
ifest growth  in  the  town,  and  his  abilities  drew  large 
numbers  of  the  new  comers  to  this  Church,  and  re- 
tained them  as  permanent  members  of  the  congrega- 
tion. The  old  disagreements  in  a  large  measure  sub- 
sided on  the  dissolution  of  the  other  Society,  and 
many  who  had  been  estranged  returned  to  their  first 
love.  The  Sunday  School  felt  the  impulse  of  these 
changed  conditions  and  improved  surroundings,  and 
grew  and  prospered  under  his  fostering  care,  the 
Bible  class  proving  especially  interesting  and  profit- 
able. Without  noise  or  excitement  the  congregation 
became  large,  and  the  Society  set    on   foot    several 

62  Mr.  Mayo's  settlements  since  leaving  Gloucester  have  been, 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  1854;  Albany,  N.  Y.,  1856;  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
1863;  Springfield,  Mass,  1873. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  6/ 

improvements  looking  to  greater  convenience  and 
comfort  in  this  House  of  Worship.  The  galleries 
which  had  been  made  so  much  more  available  than 
formerly,  by  the  alterations  in  1839,  were  still  incon- 
venient and  undesirable  to  those  who  sought  sittings 
there.  They  were  therefore  remodeled  in  the  winter 
of  1861,  and  changes  were  also  made  in  the  vestibule, 
the  present  circular  stairs  being  substituted  for  the 
old-fashioned  staircases.  The  lamps  were  at  the 
same  time  abolished,  and  gas  fixtures  took  their 
place. 

Both  Mr.  Mellen  and  Mr.  Mayo  favoring  the 
method  of  open  communion,  no  Church  records  were 
kept  during  the  pastorate  of  either,  and  it  is  there- 
fore impossible  to  tell  what  additions,  if  any,  were 
made  to  the  Church  for  about  fifteen  years  ;  but  it 
is  known  that  a  good  degree  of  religious  interest, 
earnestness  and  devotion  was  cultivated  by  both  of 
these  faithful  ministers  ;  and  not  a  few  who  were  old 
enough  to  have  their  attention  understandingly 
drawn  to  spiritual  affairs  when  Mr.  Mellen  was  pas- 
tor, attribute  their  deepest  and  most  lasting  religious 
convictions  to  his  instructions  and  counsels.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1 86 1,  Mr.  Mellen  resigned,  having  accepted 
the  Chaplaincy  of  the  24th  Regiment  of  Massachu- 
setts Volunteers.^3 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  George  W.  Skinner, 
who  was  called  in  June,  1862,  and  immediately  ac- 
cepted.    Previous   to  his   coming  here,   Mr.  Skinner 

63  Mr.  Mellen  remained  in  the  Army  till  January,  1863.  In 
February,  1863,  he  was  commissioned  Consul  to  Mauritius, 
where  he  remained  till  1867.  In  1869  he  settled  as  Pastor,  at 
Detroit,  and  subsequently  at  New  Brighton,  Staten  Islandr 
187 1 ;  Albany,  N.  Y.,  1874. 


68  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

had  been  for  a  few  months  connected  with  the  Army, 
as  Lieutenant  in  the  97th  Regiment  New  York 
State  Volunteers.  His  ministry  was  during  days  of 
trial  for  the  Country,  days  of  anxiety  and  trial  to  all 
faithful  ministers.  His  patriotic  utterances  in  the 
pulpit  were  frequent,  and  he  also  embraced  the  oft- 
recurring  opportunities  of  addressing  the  citizens  at 
the  many  War  Meetings  which  were  then  held,  and 
of  further  helping  them  for  the  discharge  of  loyal 
duties ;  while  at  the  same  time  he  was  prompt  and 
responsive  to  the  ordinary  demands  of  the  pulpit,  and 
of  his  people.  But  his  stay  here  was  too  brief,  and 
the  circumstances  of  the  times  too  exacting  in  other 
directions,  to  mark  his  pastorate  in  any  special  man- 
ner. Mr.  Skinner  resigned,  and  his  connection  with 
the  Society  ceased,  February,  1865.^* 

Rev.  Elmer  H.  Capen,  of  Stoughton,  was  invited 
to  minister  here  in  March,  1865.  His  Ordination 
took  place  in  this  house  in  October  of  that  year,  the 
Sermon  being  preached  by  Rev.  A.  A.  Miner,  D.  D., 
of  Boston.65  Mr.  Capen's  pastorate,  which  termi- 
nated  by   his    resignation   in    October,    1869,  is   too 

64  Mr.  Skinner  settled  in  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  in  1865;  in 
Stoneham,  Mass.,  1866;  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  1867;  Quincy, 
Mass.,  1869;  and  Lawrence,  Kansas,  1872. 

65  Other  portions  of  the  Service  were:  Invocation,  Rev.  B. 
K.  Russ,  of  Somerville  ;  Prayer,  Rev.  J.  H.  Willis,  of  Annis- 
quam;  Ordaining  Prayer,  by  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Skinner,  of  New 
Bedford ;  Charge  and  Delivery  of  the  Scriptures,  Rev.  A.  St. 
John  Chambr^,  of  Stoughton;  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship,  Rev. 
J.  F.  Powers,  of  East  Cambridge ;  Charge  to  the  Society,  Rev. 
H.  C.  Leonard,  of  Pigeon  Cove,  who  also  wrote  a  Hymn  for 
the  occasion. 

Mr.  Capen's  pastorates,  since  leaving  Gloucester,  have  been : 
St.  Paul,  Minn.,  1869;  Providence,  R.  L,  1871;  President  of 
Tufts  College  since  1875. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  69 

recent  to  need  any  special  notice  at  this  time.  You 
all  remember  it,  and  can  testify  to  his  doing  the 
work  of  an  earnest,  faithful  Christian  minister.  One 
thing,  however,  connected  with  it,  and  to  secure 
which  he  was  untiring  in  effort,  must  be  mentioned 
—  the  great  change  which  took  place  in  the  owner- 
ship of  the  pews,  and  the  convenience,  comfort  and 
enlarged  accommodations  of  this  House  of  Worship. 
By  gift  in  some  cases,  and  by  purchase  in  others,  the 
pews  became  the  property  of  the  Society.  Altera- 
tions and  improvements  costing  about  Fifteen  thou- 
sand dollars  gave  the  following  results :  the  removal 
of  the  pews  placed  here  in  1838,  and  the  introduction 
of  the  present  greatly  increased  and  comfortable  sit- 
tings ;  the  removal  of  the  Organ  from  the  gallery  to 
its  present  position,  thereby  gaining  more  pews  in 
the  gallery ;  the  present  platform  arrangement  of  the 
Pulpit ;  and  the  elevation  of  the  floor  of  the  house 
thirty  inches,  relieving  the  galleries  of  their  appear- 
ance of  great  height,  and  producing  symmetry  in  the 
whole  interior  arrangement  of  the  building.  The 
house  was  raised  seven  feet  from  its  old  foundation, 
and  a  commodious  vestry  for  the  use  of  the  Sunday 
School,  with  suitable  ante-rooms  and  other  conve- 
niences, was  obtained.  The  whole  was  completed  in 
the  Fall  of  1868,  and  Re-opening  Services  were  held 
on  the  30th  of  December,  the  Pastor  preaching  a 
a  Discourse  on  Temple  Worship,  from  Genesis 
xxviii  :  17.^^ 

66  The  other  services  were :  Prayer  of  Consecration,  by  Rev. 
C.  H.  Leonard;  Address,  by  Rev.  A.  St.  John  Chambrd ; 
Prayer,  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Chapin.  The  following  Hymn  was 
written  for  the  occasion  by  Rev.  Henry  C.  Leonard  : 


70  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

My  own  ministry  here  commenced  in  May,  1870, 
—  a  year  memorable  in  the  history  of  this  Society, 
as  also  in  the  history  of  the  Universalist  Church,  as 
completing  a  century  since  the  arrival  of  Rev.  John 
Murray  in  America.  The  Session  of  the  General 
Convention,  appropriately  held  here  —  with  the  old- 
est Denominational  Organization — in  September  of 
that  year,  was  the  occasion  of  the  largest  gathering 
of  Universalists  ever  known.  In  every  respect  a 
success,  that  event  was  a  joy  to  all  who  participated 
in  it,  an  honor  to  this  Society  which  so  liberally  pro- 
vided for  it,  and  an  inspiration  and  impulse  to  the 
Universalist  Church  everywhere. 

As  we  have  now,  at  great  length,  it  may  at  first 
seem  —  but  really  only  by  glimpses  and  hints  of  the 
facts  to  which  allusion  has  been  made — reviewed 
the  Century  which  closes  this  day,  some  of  the 
things  that  belong  to  our  history  are  worthy  of  being 
mentioned  with  greater  emphasis  than  has  been  laid 

"  O  Thou !  whose  thought  pervades  all  space, 
Whose  light  illumes  the  earth  and  skies, 
Within  these  walls  reveal  thy  face, 
And  smile  upon  our  sacrifice. 

We  give  to  Thee  this  house  once  more, 

Improved  by  human  art  and  skill; 
Oh,  may  the  power  of  sacred  love, 

And  Thine  own  love,  this  temple  fill. 

Through  all  our  Sabbaths  here  below. 

May  we  within  this  temple  wait; 
And  unto  Thee,  as  moments  go. 

Our  souls  divinely  consecrate. 

And  when  have  run  our  life's  quick  sands, 
And  we  shall  reach  the  fane  on  high. 

Within  this  temple  made  with  hands, 
Our  children's  spirits  sanctify." 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  /I 

on  them  as  spoken  of  in  connection  with  the  general 
facts.  And  yet  I  can  only  call  your  attention  to 
them,  at  the  best,  and  leave  to  yourselves  that  more 
extended  thought  which  meditation  upon  them  as 
causes  of  gratitude  to  God,  and  as  reflecting  honor 
on  our  fathers,  will  suggest  and  urge. 

I.  From  the  first,  this  has  been  an  eminently 
Christian  Society.  Its  pulpit  has  illustrated  and  de- 
fended the  doctrines  of  Revealed  Religion,  and  the 
congregation  have  reverenced  and  trusted  the  truths 
of  the  Bible.  Never  has  it  been  taught  to,  or  as- 
sumed by  this  people,  that  Revelation  is  a  fiction,  or 
the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  a  myth.  Amid  all  the 
diversities  of  gifts,  and  differences  of  administration, 
no  man  has  ever  ministered  to  this  people  who  sought 
to  weaken  their  faith  in  the  Authority  of  Divine 
Revelation.  No  substitute  for  the  Gospel  has  been 
proposed,  none  accepted.  What  has  been  taught  to, 
or  accepted  by  this  Society,  as  doctrine  and  duty, 
may  have  been  illustrated  by  many  facts  outside  of 
Revelation,  may  have  been  commended  by  its  agree- 
ment with  science,  with  philosophy,  with  the  utter- 
ances of  ancient  and  of  modern  wisdom,  but  its  foun- 
dation has  always  been  on  a  "Thus  saith  the  Lord." 
Our  fathers  built  upon  this  rock,  an  unshaken  confi- 
dence in  God's  Revealed  Word,  and  to  the  present 
day  their  descendants  countenance  no  departure  from 
this.  The  Sermons  of  Murray  reveal  a  depth  of 
faith  in  the  Bible,  and  in  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Son 
and  Sent  of  God,  which  the  leaders  of  other  sects 
may  have  equalled,  but  none  of  them  have  surpassed. 
His  immediate  successor  was  emphatically  *'A  man 
of  one  book,"  and  that  the  Bible.  To  no  other 
authority  would  he  bow,  but  this  was    his  complete 


^2  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER, 

Counsellor  and  Guide ;  he  defended  it  against  all 
attacks,  and  sought  in  his  teachings,  as  he  also  de- 
voutly supplicated  in  his  prayers,  "the  spread  of  the 
Everlasting  Gospel,"  as  the  only  cure  of  the  world's 
ills  and  miseries.  Those  who  came  after  him  have 
had  no  different  conviction.  Forty  years  ago,  when 
the  now  prevalent  phases  of  skepticism  and  unbelief 
first  came  across  the  waters  and  were  being  dis- 
seminated in  every  community  by  a  portion  of  the 
secular  press,  as  also  by  numerous  tracts  and  pam- 
phlets, the  Young  Men  of  this  Society  set  on  foot  an 
Organization  having  as  its  aim  the  Defence  of  Divine 
Revelation,  and  under  their  auspices  a  Course  of 
Lectures  was  given  in  this  and  the  other  churches  in 
town,  on  the  Evidences  of  Christianity.  Among  the 
eminent  men  who  took  part  in  that  Course,  I  find  the 
honored  name  of  Bp.  Griswold,  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  Our  record,  in  this  respect,  is  one  for 
which  we  may  justly  indulge  in  great  satisfaction. 

II.  This  Society  has  also  been  characterized  by 
a  free  and  progressive  spirit.  Its  pulpit  has  never 
been  hampered,  nor  has  the  congregation  been  big- 
oted against  the  light  and  truth  of  new  investiga- 
tions. Murray's  belief  is  now  wholly  a  thing  of  his- 
tory with  the  Universalist  Church.  He  accepted 
most  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  Calvinism  of  his  day, 
except  the  dogma  of  reprobation.  He  advocated  the 
doctrine  of  special  election  to  the  light  and  knowl- 
edge of  the  gospel  in  this  life,  and  a  general  election 
to  be  manifest  in  the  life  to  come.  His  peculiar  doc- 
trine, the  Union  of  all  souls  with  Christ,  who  bore 
all  the  penal  sufferings  due  to  the  entire  race,  he 
grafted  to  the  phases  of  Calvinism  which  he  accepted, 


FORBES   CC 


REV.     FREDERIC     F.    THAYER 
FouKTH  Pastor,  1S43-1S44. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  73 

including  the  Sabellian  modification  of  the  trinity, 
personal  devil,  universal  forfeiture  of  the  divine 
favor,  and  arbitrary  sovereignty.  His  methods  of 
interpretation  seem  fanciful  to  us,  and  his  treatment 
of  Bible  history,  narrative,  ritual  and  psalms,  as  hav- 
ing allegorical  reference  to  Christ,  strikes  us  as  ex- 
tremely grotesque ;  but  certainly  it  was  not  more  so 
than  was  the  common  exegesis  of  a  hundred  years 
ago  ;  while  it  had  this  decided  advantage  over  the 
popular  theology,  that,  in  pushing  the  Universal 
Promises  and  Invitations  of  the  Gospel,  against  the 
dogma  of  eternal  reprobation,  it  let  in  a  flood  of  light 
and  cheer  to  the  human  soul,  such  as  the  common 
preaching  could  not  impart.  Joy,  deep  and  intense, 
was  the  result  of  receiving  and  believing  the  views 
which  he  gave  of  the  plan  of  Salvation  ;  a  joy  whose 
fulness  we  of  the  present  day,  who  know  nothing  of 
the  bondage  of  soul  into  which  men  were  brought 
by  a  sincere  acceptance  of  what  Coleridge  justly  calls 
''that  superfetation  of  blasphemy,"  the  Calvinism  of 
a  century  ago,  can  form  no  adequate  idea. 

The  early  Universalists  of  Gloucester  were  be- 
lievers in  the  theory  advocated  by  Murray ;  but 
they  were  also  tolerant  of  other  theories,  as  is  evi- 
dent from  their  receiving  and  hearing  such  men  as 
Wright  and  Winchester ;  the  former  an  advocate  of 
the  Universal  Restitution,  from  the  modified  Calvin- 
istic  theory  of  the  Moravians  ;  and  the  latter,  a  still 
more  modified  Calvinist,  if  not  wholly  an  Arminian, 
who  denied  that  any  such  mystical  union  of  human 
souls  with  Christ,  by  which  his  acts  released  men 
from  self-incurred  penalties,  had  any  foundation ; 
and  who  advocated  such  a  personal  bearing  of  pun- 
ishment for  sin  as  would  necessitate,  in  the  case  of 


74  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

the  most  incorrigible,  the  endurance*  of  sufferings 
hereafter,  for  the  space  of  fifty  thousand  years. 
Their  tolerance  is  still  further  manifest  in  their  giv- 
ing such  frequent  hearing  to  Hosea  Ballou,  whose 
independent  views  were  so  unlike  those  of  any  one 
who  could  then  have  preached  to  them. 

Mr.  Jones,  at  the  time  of  his  settlement,  seems  to 
have  been  quite  in  accord  with  the  views  of  Murray, 
but  his  theology  underwent  several  modifications  in 
process  of  time,  and  in  his  later  days  he  came  to 
advocate  a  system  not  materially  differing  from  the 
Unitarian  basis  on  which  Universalism  has  been  gen- 
erally placed  since  the  early  part  of  the  present  cen- 
tury. In  some  few  particulars  he  retained  his  trini- 
tarian  views,  although  they  were  evidently  very 
much  modified  by  his  rejection  of  the  doctrine  of 
vicarious  sacrifice.  He  also  retained  to  the  last  his 
old  belief  in  the  resurrection  of  this  body  of  flesh. 

None  of  those  who  succeeded  him  have  had  uni- 
form views  on  all  points  of  theology ;  and  since  their 
peculiarities  of  belief  have  been  honestly  entertained, 
the  differences  were  no  doubt  freely  presented  and 
discussed.  On  such  discussion  the  Society  never 
imposed  restraint,  and  the  result  has  been  that  a 
free  and  instructive  pulpit  has  been  encouraged. 

The  early  experiences  of  intolerance  made  the 
Society  cautious  how  it  gave  aid  or  encouragement 
to  any  combinations  based  on  statements  of  doc- 
trine. It  was  eager  to  enter  into  alliance  with  those 
who  are  struggling  for  liberty  of  conscience,  and  the 
enjoyment  of  legal  rights,  and  so  took  an  active 
interest  in  the  Association  of  1785  ;  but  for  many 
years  it  stood  wholly  aloof  from  the  Convention  or- 
ganized in   1793,  one  avowed  aim  of  which  was  the 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  75 

establishment  of  uniformity  of  belief. ^^  So  Indepen- 
dent was  its  spirit,  as  well  as  its  name,  that  for 
twenty  years  it  sent  no  representative  to  that  body. 
Subsequently  it  became  connected  with  the  Conven- 
tion, and  when,  years  after,  one  of  its  Pastors  argued 
strongly  for  ultra  Congregationalism,  and  declaring 
himself  ''no  longer  a  sectarian  Universalist,"  urged 
the  Society  to  the  same  position,  he  was  quietly 
heard,  but  no  measures  were  taken  to  change  the 
course  of  action.  Later,  under  a  Pastor  who  was 
indifferent  on  this  subject,  the  Society  became  indif- 
ferent ;  but  never  any  other  than  a  Universalist 
Church  and  Society,  it  afterwards  responded  to  the 
appeal  of  another  Pastor  and  identified  itself  with 
all  the  interests  and  organizations  of  our  faith. 

III.  The  attitude  of  this  Society  towards  the 
Country,  and  the  moral  and  social  Reforms  of  the 
land,  is  one  that  has  always  been  creditable  to  it,  and 
to  the  truths  which  it  has  professed.  I  need  not  fur- 
ther enlarge  on  Murray's  patriotic  position  during 
the  Revolution  ;  but  it  is  due  to  the  memory  of  his 
early  associates  in  Gloucester,  to  say  that,  with  few 
exceptions,  they  were  patriotic  men  at  a  time  when 
patriotism  meant  opposition  to  the  mightiest  and 
proudest  government  in  the  world.  Several  whose 
names  are  attached  to  the  first  form  of  organization, 
were  eminent  in  their  part  in  the  struggle  which 
gave  us  our  Independence.  And  for  several  years 
after  Mr.  Jones  came  here  he  records  his  attendance 
of  the  funerals  of  no  small  number  who  were  soldiers 
at  Bunker  Hill,  at  Monmouth  and  on  other  illustri- 
ous battle-fields.  During  the  second  war  with  Great 
67  See  "  History  of  Universalism  in  America,"  Vol.  I. 


76  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Britain,  this  Society  also  furnished  many  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  rights  of  the  nation.  And  on 
the  breaking  out  of  the  late  rebellion,  a  large  number 
of  the  descendants  of  the  old  heroes  went  out  to 
defend  and  perpetuate  the  Government  which  their 
fathers  had  called  into  being.  Many  of  them  were 
spared  to  return  to  their  homes  and  are  to-day  with 
us,  bearing  honorable  scars,  and  rejoicing  that  they 
have  not  been  unworthy  of  the  men  in  whose  places 
they  now  stand.  Others  fell  on  the  field  and  still 
others  wasted  away  their  lives  in  loathsome  prison- 
pens.  From  first  to  last,  it  is  a  record  of  which  we 
may  well  be  proud,  that  this  Society  has  neither 
withheld  its  money  nor  its  blood  when  the  Nation 
called  for  aid  and  for  sacrifice. 

I  have  already  alluded  to  the  attitude  of  Father 
Jones  on  our  great  National  Evil,  Slavery.  He 
stands  not  alone  as  the  representative  of  this  pulpit 
on  that  great  sin.  Not  one  of  his  successors  ever 
so  far  disgraced  himself  and  his  profession  of  Faith 
in  Universal  Brotherhood,  as  to  be  an  apologist  for 
human  bondage.  But  often  and  at  times  when  it 
has  required  no  small  degree  of  courage,  has  this 
pulpit  faithfully  instructed  men  in  their  duties 
towards  those  who  were  in  bonds. 

As  the  Universalist  Church  has  it  among  the 
grandest  things  borne  on  its  record,  that  it  took  an 
early  stand  against  Intemperance,  so  this  Society 
has  been  a  consistent  member  of  that  Church  in  its 
position  and  efforts  in  this  direction.  In  1827  the 
Universalists  of  Gloucester  were  prominent  in  advo- 
cating the  Suppression  of  Intemperance,  by  the 
action  of  the  town  authorities  against  it.  Four  years 
later,  when  the  first  Temperance  Society  of  which  I 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  'J'] 

can  find  any  account,  was  organized  in  this  town, 
this  Society  furnished  its  full  proportion  of  the  mem- 
bership ;  and  its  Ministers  have  done  at  least  as 
much  as  any  others  in  calling  attention  to  the  sub- 
ject and  enlightening  and  directing  public  thought 
with  reference  to  it. 

IV.  Finally,  it  is  not  unbecoming  in  us,  at  this 
time,  to  bear  testimony  to  the  high  Religious  Char- 
acter of  this  Society.  We  have  already  seen  that 
the  Founders  of  this  Church  were  members  of  an- 
other Communion  when  conscience  called  them  to 
rally  around  him  whom  God  had  chosen  as  the  means 
of  their  enlightenment  and  joy.  They  were  men  and 
women  of  devout  spirit  and  of  truly  Christian  Char- 
acter and  Life.  Their  mantle  descended  on  those 
who  came  after  them  ;  and  rich  are  the  lessons  of 
devotion  and  of  true  Christian  Manhood,  furnished 
by  those  who  have  here  been  taught  of  God  and 
have  manifested  in  the  world  their  Discipleship  with 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  I  need  but  mention  the 
names  of  Sargent,  Pearce,  Elwell,  Friend,  Hough, 
Babson,  Sawyer,  Moore,  Ferson,  Dale,  Trask,  Saville, 
to  bring  before  many  of  you  forms  and  faces  with 
which  you  always  associate  honesty,  benevolence, 
piety,  and  all  the  graces  of  the  Christian  Character ; 
and  the  remembrance  of  whom  also  suggests  to  you 
the  goodly  company  of  men  and  women  with  whom 
they  were  associated  in  the  House  of  God  and  whose 
Name  they  glorified  among  men.^^ 

<*  See  Appendix  Y. 


yS  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Behold,  my  brethren,  how  grand  an  Inheritance 
has  come  down  to  us,  from  our  fathers,  who  trusted 
in  God  !  What  rich  memories  of  teachers,  alive  and 
dead,  are  ours  !  How  all  these  encourage,  and  also 
admonish  us  ;  teaching  us  how  sure  is  God's  blessing 
on  faithful  effort,  and  how  necessary  our  present  and 
continued  fidelity  is,  if  we  would  be  worthy  of  what 
the  past  has  put  into  our  hands.  While,  then,  we 
rejoice  in  the  assurance  of  God's  presence  and  bles- 
sing in  the  past,  let  us  not  cease  to  labor  and  to  pray, 
that  the  Lord  our  God  may  be  with  us,  as  He  was 
with  our  fathers. 


Evening  Services. 


After  partaking  of  a  bountiful  collation,  provided 
by  the  ladies  of  the  Society,  in  the  Vestry,  the  Con- 
gregation reassembled  in  the  Church  at  half-past 
seven  o'clock.  After  singing  by  the  choir:  "Again 
within  these  hallowed  walls,"  Prayer  was  offered  by 
Rev.  C.  C.  Clark,  of  Pigeon  Cove. 

The  Congregation  then  joined  in  singing  Hymn 
657,  Adams  &  Chapin's  collection :  "  I  love  Thy 
Church,  O  God." 

The  Pastor  then  remarked  that  this  House  of 
Worship  was  dear  and  sacred  to  other  denomina- 
tions;  for  here,  in  1832,  the  Orthodox  Society  had 
Ordained  their  first  Pastor,  Rev.  Charles  S.  Porter, 
Rev.  Lyman  Beecher,  D.  D.,  preaching  the  sermon. 
Here,  in  1846,  while  these  walls  were  draped  in 
mourning  for  the  decease  of  Rev.  Thomas  Jones,  the 
Methodists  brought  the  mortal  remains  of  one  of 
their  venerable  ministers,  the  Rev.  Joel  Steele,  and 
his  ministering  brethren  here  performed  his  funeral 
rites.  But  to  none  can  this  place  be  so  especially 
sacred  as  to  those  who  have  made  it  their  Religious 
Home,  and  have  here  learned  how  to  discharge  life's 
duties,  and  to  find  comfort  amid  life's  trials  and  sor- 

79 


80  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

rows.  We  wish  to  give  this  service  to  tender  mem- 
ory, to  the  revival  and  the  recital  of  reminiscences, 
that  the  story  of  the  past  may  be  pleasant  to  those 
who  participated  in  its  realities  and  profitable  to 
those  who  are  succeeding  them  in  the  delights  and 
duties  of  this  place.  We  have  with  us  one  who  par- 
ticipated in  the  Semi-Centennial  Services,  in  1824, 
and  from  him  let  us  hear  first. 

Rev.  Thomas  G.  Farnsworth  then  responded  sub- 
stantially as  follows  : 

My  Dear  Friends:  —  I  have  not  language  ade- 
quate to  express  the  pleasure  I  feel  at  this  hour.  I 
feel  as  if  I  were  living  beyond  my  time.  When  I 
look  back  fifty  years,  I  think  of  a  multitude  of  those 
who  were  with  us  then,  whose  sympathy  was  with 
us,  who  rejoiced  in  our  faith,  that  are  no  longer  here  ; 
they  are  gone,  yet  still  I  linger,  not  very  old,  not 
yet  have  I  reached  fourscore  years.  It  rejoices  my 
heart  to  believe  unwaveringly  and  with  faith,  that 
all  these  souls  still  live.  It  may  be  that  their  ear  is 
open  to  our  prayers  and  songs  to-night. 

In  the  summer  of  1821  I  was  in  the  study  of 
Father  Ballou  in  Boston,  with  Benj.  Whittemore, 
Zelotes  Fuller  and  M.  B.  Ballou.  A  member  of  the 
parish  at  Stafford  called  on  Father  Ballou  and  he 
told  him  that  he  had  a  young  man  for  them.  I 
received  a  call  from  them  and  settled  there.  I  was 
there  two  and  a  half  years.  I  went  to  Newton  Cor- 
ner in  the  Spring  of  1824.  In  November  of  that 
year  I  visited  Gloucester  and  attended  the  Semi- 
Centennial.  During  my  ministry  in  Haverhill,  some 
years  later,  I  became  acquainted  with  Father  Jones 
and  sometimes  exchanged  with  him.  There  was  no 
man  living,  save  father  Ballou,  whom  I  respected  so 


ADDRESSES.  8 1 

thoroughly  and  loved  so  tenderly  as  Father  Jones. 
The  last  time  I  saw  Father  Jones  was  in  1839.  He 
exchanged  with  me.  I  was  then  preaching  in  George- 
town. I  believe  you  cannot  hold  in  too  high  estima- 
tion the  fathers  of  this  Society.  You  can  never  esti- 
mate fully  how  much  you  are  indebted  to  their  fidel- 
ity, their  Christian  worth  and  the  power  of  their 
example  ;  how  much  they  loved  our  cause ;  how  much 
they  were  willing  to  sacrifice  for  its  advancement 
and  defence.  They  and  the  upholders  of  our  faith 
in  other  places  showed  a  spirit  of  consecration  and 
self  sacrifice  that  Heaven  smiled  upon.  May  the 
mantle  of  these  worthy  souls  fall  upon  those  who 
follow  in  their  footsteps. 

When  this  faith  of  ours  was  established  here,  there 
was  a  feeling  of  discord  between  the  different 
churches.  The  Orthodox,  Baptists  and  Methodists 
were  at  war  with  each  other.  Now  they  clasp  hands. 
This  faith  our  fathers  cherished  has  transformed 
them.  It  has  been  the  leaven  that  has  worked 
through  the  whole  Christian  Church  ;  it  is  still  work- 
ing and  by  and  by  we  shall  all  be  Universalists.  Men 
are  beginning  to  see  and  believe  that  God  is  the 
Father  of  the  whole  race  ;  all  men  are  brothers,  all 
heirs  of  the  same  inheritance,  with  a  common 
destiny.  Let  me  beseech  you  to  cherish  with  the 
utmost  reverence  the  memory  of  those  who  built  up 
such  a  faith  and  to  whose  devotedness  and  unswerv- 
ing fidelity  you  are  so  strongly  indebted. 

I  pray  God  that  he  may  keep  you,  may  make  his 
face  to  shine  upon  you  and  finally  and  eternally  give 
you  peace. 

This  Church,  said  Mr.  Eddy,  has  had  ten  pastors. 
It   is   matter  of  regret  that   of  the  seven  yet  living, 


82  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

more  are  not  with  us  on  this  occasion,  but  unavoid- 
ably, several  are  absent.  The  immediate  successor 
of  Father  Jones,  Rev.  Frederic  F.  Thayer,  is  with 
us  and  will  now  address  you.  Mr.  Thayer  responded  : 
Respected  Friends:  —  Thirty-two  years  ago  this 
autumn,  I  made  my  first  visit  to  Cape  Ann  —  a 
stranger  alike  to  the  people  and  the  work  of  the 
Christian  ministry.  I  was  invited  to  take  up  my 
residence  here,  and  learn  of  both ;  and  whatever  may 
have  been  the  results  of  that  connection  to  this  peo- 
ple—  and  I  have  never  been  led  to  regard  them  as 
unfortunate — to  myself  I  have  ever  counted  it  among 
the  fortunate  events  of  my  life.  The  young  pastor 
found  here  obstacles,  for  which  he  was  in  no  sense 
responsible,  which  might  well  dishearten  the  bravest. 
Out  of  the  same  soil,  however,  came  encouragement 
and  strength.  The  counsellors  of  those  days  were 
of  the  older  men,  while  those  younger  and  more 
active  were  ready  to  follow  their  leading.  Among 
such  competent  and  considerate  advisers,  who  loved 
the  cause  of  their  Master  and  were  willing  to  spend 
and  be  spent  for  it,  the  young  pastor  found  co- 
workers and  companions.  A  large  congregation  at- 
tended upon  the  Sabbath  services,  and  the  Sabbath 
School  became  as  prosperous  as  in  its  previous  his- 
tory. But  the  embarrassments  of  past  years,  the 
support  of  the  senior  pastor,  who  was  settled  for  life, 
the  burden  of  a  heavy  debt,  added  to  the  current 
expenses  of  the  Society,  all  of  which  were  to  be  borne 
by  a  fragment  of  what  had  been  one  of  the  largest 
societies  in  the  denomination,  made  it  advisable  that 
something  should  be  done  to  remove  some  of  the 
hindrances  to  success.  The  generation  of  veterans, 
who  until  then  had  controlled  the  affairs  of  the  So- 


ADDRESSES.  83 

ciety,  were  reminded  by  their  approaching  infirmities 
that  what  remained  for  them  to  do  must  be  done 
quickly ;  and  they  were  especially  desirous  to  extin- 
guish the  debt  which  they  had  been  instrumental  in 
contracting.  By  the  persistent  labors  of  a  few,  to 
whom  the  Society  should  ever  be  grateful,  this  por- 
tion of  the  work  was  handsomely  performed. 

From  that  time,  the  generation  of  men  who  had 
so  long  been  prominent  as  officers  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Christian  Society  surrendered  the  prudential 
affairs  to  the  control  of  younger  men.  And  here  I 
take  occasion  to  say  in  regard  to  these  men,  who  at 
this  time  laid  aside  the  harness,  that  they  were  in 
some  respects  remarkable  men.  Their  names  may 
not  illuminate  any  page  of  their  country's  history, 
but  their  virtues,  as  illustrated  in  the  circle  where 
they  were  best  known,  have  given  them  an  enduring 
place  in  the  Book  of  Life,  and  the  generation  of 
to-day,  who  worship  here,  may  look  back  to  a  noble 
ancestry.  In  a  life  not  altogether  secluded  from  the 
world,  I  have  never  found  such  men  elsewhere ;  and 
it  is  but  a  grateful  tribute  to  their  worth  that  I  speak 
of  them  on  this  occasion.  My  youthful  efforts  were 
encouraged  by  their  acquaintance  and  their  confi 
dence,  and  my  subsequent  career  cheered  by  their 
continued  blessing,  until  we  were  separated  by  the 
impenetrable  veil.  My  faith  in  the  possibilities  of 
human  nature  was  strengthened  by  what  I  had  seen 
of  them,  and  the  confident  belief  of  a  hopeful  pastor 
confirmed,  that  a  plant,  nurtured  by  their  efforts  and 
their  prayers,  must  deserve  and  secure  the  blessing 
of  the  Most  High. 

Did    this    occasion    belong    exclusively   to    me,    I 
should  delight   to  speak  of  many  of  these  men  indi- 


84  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

vidually ;  for  they  stand  as  distinctly  before  me  in 
their  personal  worth,  as  they  do  by  name,  or  in  their 
places  at  the  head  of  their  families  ;  but  I  must  not 
so  far  trespass  on  time  which  belongs  to  others.  Of 
two  of  these  men,  however,  with  whom  I  was  inti- 
mately associated,  you  will  allow  me  to  speak.  One 
of  them,  prominent  among  the  founders  of  this  So- 
ciety—  one  of  the  most  influential  of  the  merchants 
of  his  time,  who,  when  the  infant  Society  had  out- 
grown the  meeting  house  on  Front  street,  purchased 
the  timber  of  which  this  edifice  is  constructed,  from 
a  vessel  which  the  Fates  had  compelled  to  make  har- 
bor here  —  was  especially  prominent  as  a  devoted 
disciple  of  John  Murray  and  his  worthy  successor. 
So  fully  was  he  indoctrinated  with  the  early  instruc- 
tions of  the  founder,  that,  regardless  of  any  modifi- 
cation of  the  views  of  such  as  called  themselves  Uni- 
versalists,  which  had  taken  place  long  before  his 
death,  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  he  passed  from 
earth  trusting  for  his  salvation  to  the  merits  of  the 
crucified  Son  of  God,  "who  was  the  propitiation  for 
our  sins,  and  not  for  ours  only,  but  for  the  sins  of 
the  whole  world."  He  believed  in  the  brotherhood  of 
the  race,  and  exemplified  the  doctrine  in  his  days  of 
prosperity,  by  striving  to  make  those  around  him 
happy.  In  adversity  he  bowed  to  the  discipline  of 
his  Father  in  Heaven,  not  permitting  himself  to 
doubt  the  love  of  Him  "who  so  loved  the  world,  that 
he  gave  for  it  and  to  it  his  only  begotten  Son." 
Having  completed  nearly  a  century  in  years  as  a 
citizen  and  a  merchant,  an  ornament  to  his  native 
town,  as  a  worshipper  in  this  church,  one  of  its  most 
reliable  and  worthy,  nearly  thirty  years  ago  he  was 
borne  to  an  honored  grave. 


ADDRESSES.  85 

Of  the  other  one  to  whom  I  have  alkided,  I  knew 
more,  because  I  knew  him  longer.  Younger  by  many 
years  than  the  former,  he  lived  many  years  after,  dur- 
ing which  I  never  failed  in  my  visits  to  him  until  a 
cloud  received  him  from  sight.  I  can  best  express 
my  estimate  of  him  by  saying  that  he  was  the  best 
man  I  ever  knew.  He  possessed  the  most  virtues, 
offset  by  the  fewest  faults,  I  have  ever  seen  com- 
bined. His  smile  was  a  benediction,  and  wherever 
he  went  he  carried  joy.  His  discriminating  liberaHty 
commanded  the  blessing  of  the  poor.  His  consid- 
erate regard  for  his  associates  made  them  love  him. 
His  integrity  insured  confidence  in  every  relation. 
His  wisdom  in  council  enforced  respect.  His  devo- 
tion to  all  outward  religious  observances  and  his 
compliance  with  the  Master's  commands,  entitled 
him  to  be  called  a  Christian.  His  house  was  a  sanc- 
tuary where  the  Bible  was  honored,  the  blessing  of 
God  invoked  for  the  labors  of  the  day,  and  the  prayer 
of  gratitude  offered  at  its  close.  Herein  is  found 
the  germ  of  all  that  gives  occasion  for  any  eulogy. 
He  of  whom  I  speak  was  a  disciple  of  Christ  and  as 
such  we  believe  was  approved  of  God  and  honored 
by  men.  His  virtues  were  the  offspring  of  his  reli- 
gion and  it  need  not  be  counted  strange  that  many 
a  parent  has  pointed  his  child  to  such  an  one  as  a 
model  for  imitation.  Modest  and  amiable,  he  yet 
was  firm  in  resisting  evil ;  and  what  appeared  to  him 
right  was  sure  of  his  support.  When  the  adversities 
of  life,  of  which  he  had  fully  his  proportion,  came 
upon  him,  he  leaned  upon  the  same  arm  that  had 
brought  prosperity,  and  he  found  support  in  his  con- 
fidence in  his  Father  in  Heaven.  With  the  same 
meekness  and  trust  he  met  ihe  infirmities  of  age, 
until,    ripe    in   years   and    in    honors,    he  was   taken 


86  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

home  ;  and  if  our  faitK  does  not  mislead  us,  he  has 
found  a  world  to  whose  scenes  and  occupations  he 
was  not  entirely  a  stranger  and  to  a  presence  where 
his  fidelity  here  has  won  for  him  the  welcome  con- 
gratulation —  the  approbation  alike  of  what  has  been 
and  the  prophecy  of  what  is  to  be — "Come  up 
higher."  This  community  lost  an  exemplary  citizen, 
whose  name  for  many  years  to  come  shall  be  men- 
tioned only  with  respect  and  this  Society  lost  one 
of  its  shining  jewels.  He  could  always  be  referred 
to  as  illustrating  in  his  life  the  teachings  of  this  pul- 
pit and  when  the  clouds  gathered  around  this  church 
he  led  the  noble  efforts  which  were  made  for  their 
dispersion.  Here,  of  all  spots,  should  his  name  ever 
be  cherished,  and  when  the  Universalist  denomina- 
tion shall  make  up  its  calendar  of  sainted  ones  for 
exaltation,  his  name  will  be  early  found. 

I  have  not  mentioned  any  names,  but  there  is  not 
a  parent  present  who  will  not  delight  in  the  oppor- 
tunity to  tell  his  asking  children  to  whom  I  have 
referred  and  to  confirm,  so  far  as  his  opportunities 
permit,  all  I  have  said.  If  it  shall  be  said  that  my 
eulogy  has  become  flattery,  I  reply  that  I  know 
whereof  I  affirm,  for  I  have  lived  under  the  same 
roof  with  both  these  men  ;  and  although  it  was  at  a 
period  of  their  lives  when  their  active  participation 
in  worldly  affairs  was  mostly  over,  yet  in  the  matured 
fruit  I  could  see  indications  of  what  must  have  pre- 
ceded. I  have  seen  a  character  almost  spotless,  I 
infer  the  rest. 

These  reminiscences  will  suffice  to  show  on  what 
my  pleasant  associations  with  this  place  are  founded. 
With  fathers  such  as  I  have  described,  I  found  wor- 
thy successors   among   the   children,  and  from   that 


ADDRESSES.  8/ 

day  to  the  present  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  I 
have  found  only  friends.  The  time  of  my  residence 
in  Gloucester  abounds  in  precious  memories  and  my 
heart  is  filled  with  gratitude  to  God  that  I  am  per- 
mitted to  be  with  you  on  this  memorial  occasion.  I 
miss  many  faces  that  would  look  familiar  here,  but 
I  can  find  some  esteemed  representatives  of  the  dead 
or  the  absent  living.  Although  not  often  with  you 
in  person,  I  know  of  your  prosperity  as  a  religious 
society,  and  I  rejoice  in  it.  The  tidings  of  your 
domestic  sorrows  have  often  reached  my  ears  and 
commanded  my  fullest  sympathy.  Therefore  I  can- 
not feel  that  I  am  a  stranger,  although  many  of  those 
who  are  now  active  co-workers  with  your  faithful 
pastor  have  grown  to  maturity  since  I  left  Glou- 
cester. While  the  cheerful  recollections  of  the  wor- 
thies who  have  passed  on,  the  pleasant  welcome  of 
those  who  have  grown  from  youth  to  middle  age  and 
now  bear  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day;  while 
these  remain,  I  can  draw  a  little  upon  the  good-will 
which  must  come  by  inheritance.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances I  have  ventured  to  make  the  preceding 
remarks.  It  would  give  me  pleasure  to  mention 
some  reminiscences  of  Father  Jones,  as  I  was  thrown 
in  his  way ;  but  if  I  say  only,  that  I  saw  in  him  the 
beauty  of  a  character  chastened  in  the  work  of  life, 
and  a  devoted  servant  of  Christ  confidently  awaiting 
his  well-earned  crown,  it  is  enough  to  show  his  con- 
nection with  the  venerable  men  of  whom  I  have 
already  spoken.  I  would  gladly  recite  what  I  have 
learned  of  the  faithful  ministers  of  this  church  for 
the  last  quarter  of  a  century,  but  one  is  here  who 
can  do  this  more  fittingly,  and  who  by  his  eloquent 
words  will  manifest  to  you  how  the  young  pastor  of 


<S8  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

another  generation,  feeble  in  body  but  strong  in 
faith,  who  went  forth  bearing  precious  seed,  has 
thrilled  the  hearts  of  thousands  by  his  manly  words 
for  Christ  and  his  cause,  and  now  comes  back  rejoic- 
ing, bringing  his  sheaves  with  him.  I  would  like  to 
speak  of  some  dear  to  my  memory,  who,  having  com- 
pleted their  tasks,  in  infirmity  wait  only  the  sum- 
mons to  depart ;  but  must  content  myself  by  com- 
mending to  such  the  blessed  thought,  that  a  kind 
Father  has  for  all  a  higher  field  of  service,  to  which, 
at  His  own  time  and  in  His  own  way.  He  gently  leads 
us  for  nobler  triumphs. 

Having  occupied  the  time  allotted  to  me,  I  close 
with  an  earnest  prayer  for  your  continued  prosperity, 
individually,  and  as  a  church  of  Christ ;  with  the 
hope  that  the  life  of  your  devoted  pastor  may  long 
be  spared  and  his  days  of  usefulness  in  this  field  be 
long  protracted  ;  and  in  the  faith,  strengthened  with 
my  years,  that  the  fundamental  doctrine  of  this 
church,  as  proclaimed  here  by  John  Murray,  of  the 
Divine  Paternity,  however  interpreted  by  men,  will 
finally  be  illustrated  in  the  complete  success  of  the 
Saviour's  mission  —  the  ultimate  triumph  of  good 
over  evil,  and  the  consequent  redemption  and  exalta- 
tion of  the  whole  brotherhood  of  man. 

The  Congregation  then  sung  Hymn  970,  *'  Long 
be  our  fathers'  temple  ours." 

The  Pastor  then  remarked  that  the  immediate  suc- 
cessor of  Mr.  Thayer,  Rev.  H.  B.  Soule,  had  departed 
this  life  ;  and  that  the  next  in  the  order  of  service 
was  Rev.  A.  D.  Mayo,  who  would  make  such  remarks 
as  to  him  seemed  most  pertinent.  Mr.  Mayo  thus 
responded : 

It  seems  to  me,  to-night,  as  if  I  were  looking  across 


REV.    HENRY    B  .    S  ()  U  L  E 
Fifth  Pastor,   i?45-i846. 


ADDRESSES.  89 

the    sea   to  some  dim,  fading  land,  as    I    recall   the 
events  of  the  years  when   I  was  here  with  you.     It 
is  now  twenty  years   since   I   left  you,  to   undertake 
the  ministry  of    Liberal    Christianity   in   the   West. 
I  did  not  go  because  I  was  tired  of  you,  and  I  do  not 
think  you  were  tired  of  me.     But  when  I  entered  the 
ministry  I  resolved  that  I  would  try  to  stay  with  one 
people   until    my    health    became    firm,  and   I  knew 
what  I  wanted  to  teach  ;  and  then  go  to  some  West- 
ern   community    to    establish    a    church    of    Liberal 
Christianity.     After   a    service   of   twenty   years   at 
Cleveland,    Ohio,    Albany,    N.    Y.,    and    Cincinnati, 
Ohio,   I  was  providentially  called  back  to  my  native 
State.     But  the   old  "Commonwealth  of   Massachu- 
setts,"   that    God   has  been   implored  to  "save"    in 
the  Thanksgiving  Proclamations  for  the  last  hundred 
years,  no  longer  exists.     What  changes   have  come 
over  our  dear  old  State  within  the  last  twenty  years  ! 
I  left  Gloucester  an  old  village  ;  now  you  are  a  thriv- 
ing  young  city.     The   crooked   old    Boston  of   that 
time   has  partly  gone  up  in  flames,  and  old  Boston 
glorified  into  perhaps  the  most  beautiful  of  our  met- 
ropolitan cities.     The  valley  of  the  Connecticut,  that 
I  left,  thirty  years  ago,  dozing  in  its  sleepy  meadows 
and  elm-shaded  village  streets,  has  been  touched  by 
the  great  magician  of  Progress,  and  a  hundred  thou- 
sand people  are  now  gathered  in  the  dozen  busy  man- 
ufacturing towns  within  half  an  hour's  ride  of  Spring- 
field, my  present    home.     Even  the  interior  of   this 
old  church   is  all  changed,  and  the  rocky  hills  over 
which  I  tramped  in  the  past  days  are  now  graded  for 
city  streets.     Emerson  used  to  tell  us  that  England 
extended  to  the  AUeghanies,  and  America  began  the 
other  side.     But  the  great  war  of  reconstruction  has 


90  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

changed  all  that.  The  mighty  West  is  now  over- 
flowing the  East,  and  all  provincial  distinctions  dis- 
appear. As  I  stand  at  the  street  corners  of  New 
England  cities,  I  see  the  children  of  every  nation 
and  clime  flocking  to  the  public  schools.  So  are  we 
trying  to  work  out  the  problem  of  organizing  the 
world's  Republic  on  the  basis  of  the  Golden  Rule. 
But  through  all  these  changes  of  past  and  present, 
one  thing  remains  stable  and  equable.  I  have 
brought  back  to  New  England  the  same  old  Gospel 
of  Christ  that  I  began  to  preach  to  you  twenty-eight 
years  ago.  That  blessed  Gospel  of  the  paternity 
of  God,  the  brotherhood  of  Man,  the  life  of  love,  and 
the  final  restitution  of  all  things,  remains;  —  the  same 
"yesterday,  to-day  and  forever." 

It  would  not  be  best  for  you  or  me  that  I  should 
attempt  to  recall  the  personal  events  of  that  eight 
years'  ministry  among  you.  Those  of  you  who  knew 
me  then  will  remember  all  those  things,  and  they 
could  not  be  understood  by  others.  But  three  points 
in  my  recollection  of  that  eventful  past  come  up  to 
me  to-night,  and  of  them  I  will  briefly  speak. 

First,  as  I  look  into  these  faces  before  me,  I  see 
many  that  are  familiar,  though  somewhat  changed 
by  the  passing  years ;  while  in  many  a  young  coun- 
tenance I  behold  glances  and  gleams  that  strongly 
remind  me  of  those  who  have  passed  away.  And 
those  familiar  looks,  which  become  more  familiar  as 
I  gaze,  revive  the  recollection  of  the  amazing  kind- 
ness and  forbearance  of  these  Gloucester  people 
towards  me  during  my  entire  ministry  in  this  church. 
I  came  to  you  little  more  than  a  boy,  yet  bearing 
about  in  my  body  the  infirmities  of  an  old  man.  And 
my  bodily  feebleness  was  not  the  worst  of  it.     For 


ADDRESSES.  9 1 

my  whole  term  of  collegiate  and  theological  educa- 
tion had  been  comprised  in  one  year's  study  and  two 
years  of  such  reading  as  a  desperate  invalidism  would 
permit.  I  had  been  reared  in  the  old,  obstinate 
school  of  New  England  Unitarian  Independency, 
which  practically  puts  every  young  man  on  his  spir- 
itual muscle,  and  sends  him  out  into  the  wide  world 
to  conquer  a  faith.  I  came  as  full  of  theories  and 
personal  crotchets,  as  an  earnest-minded  boy  who  fan- 
cied himself  a  man,  could  be.  As  I  look  back  upon 
some  of  these  juvenile  performances,  I  am  filled  with 
amazement  at  the  way  you  bore  with  them.  I  re- 
member being  called  to  officiate  at  the  marriage  of 
three  fair  sisters,  and  thinking  I  had  done  a  great 
stroke  of  business  when  I  made  them  stand  in  a  row 
and  be  married  *'at  one  fell  swoop,"  by  the  same 
ceremony.  When  I  came  to  my  first  communion 
service  my  heart  failed  me,  and  I  did  not  think  I 
could  go  through  the  ceremony.  But  good  old 
Father  Person  talked  it  over  with  me,  in  his  library, 
and  gave  me  courage  to  come  to  the  Lord's  table, 
where  I  always  have  found  a  blessing  awaiting  me. 
For  a  long  time  I  could  not  bring  myself  to  lay  my 
hand  in  baptism  upon  the  forehead  of  a  child,  till  one 
who  has  long  since  passed  on  to  the  better  land  per- 
suaded me.  I  recollect  in  those  old,  explosive  days 
before  the  war,  when  they  sent  back  slaves  from 
Boston  to  South  Carolina,  I  used  to  stand  up  period- 
ically, having  packed  my  trunk  the  night  before,  and 
blaze  away,  like  a  whole  battery,  right  in  the  face 
and  eyes  of  you  all,  and  then  go  home  wondering  at 
the  little  sensation  my  tremendous  demonstration 
seemed  to  make.  I  didn't  understand  then,  that 
under  the   quiet  surface  of  your   Yankee   reticence 


92  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

you  all  agreed  with  me,  and  listened  to  the  discharge 
of  my  artillery  as  soldiers  hear  the  stray  shots  of  the 
skirmishers  in  the  early  morning  of  a  day  of  battle. 
But  through  all  this,  and  a  great  many  things  I  can- 
not now  speak  of,  your  patience  and  forbearance  was 
simply  astonishing.  I  do  not  remember  an  instance 
when  any  man  of  you  reproached  me,  or  in  any  un- 
friendly spirit  said,  "  Why  do  you  so  .'^  "  I  now  realize 
what  an  advantage  it  was  for  me  to  spend  those  early 
years  of  my  ministry  with  a  broad-minded,  generous, 
uncritical  set  of  men,  many  of  whom  had  seen  and 
known  a  thousand  fold  more  than  myself ;  who  were 
accustomed  to  the  "tricks  and  manners  "  of  boys,  on 
sea  and  land,  at  home  and  in  foreign  parts.  You 
evidently  had  made  up  your  mind  there  was  some- 
thing in  your  young  minister,  and  were  willing  he 
should  work  it  out,  even,  sometimes,  at  your  expense. 
How  kind  you  were  to  me  during  those  years  of  early 
toil  and  affliction.  And  perhaps  the  kindest  thing 
of  all  was  to  let  me  go. 

The  second  thought  that  occurs  to  me  is  that 
Gloucester  and  this  church  were  the  university 
where  I  was  trained  for  the  Christian  ministry. 
Here  I  was  brought  by  a  Divine  hand,  that  through 
quiet  study  and  some  experience  of  life,  I  might 
establish  myself  on  a  foundation  of  Christian  faith, 
from  which,  thank  God,  I  have  never  found  occasion 
to  swerve  since  the  day  I  left  you.  Every  day  since 
I  went  I  have  felt  the  great  advantage  to  a  young 
minister  to  go  first  to  a  quiet  place  and  abide  with 
an  indulgent  people,  until  he  knows  in  whom  he 
believes,  has  somewhat  measured  himself  and  made 
some  fit  trial  of  his  own  powers.  Especially,  let  not 
our  young  men  go  forth  into  the  West,  that   great, 


ADDRESSES.  93 

chaotic  realm  of  dissolving  faiths  and  social  experi- 
menting, "not  knowing  whether  there  be  a  Holy 
Ghost ; "  whether  Christ  is  an  Oriental  myth,  or  the 
Lord  of  Glory  ;  whether  man  is  a  snarl  of  bewitched 
nerves,  or  a  living,  immortal  soul ;  whether  God  is 
an  infinite,  impersonal  uncertainty,  or  the  ''one  God 
and  Father  of  all,  above  all,  through  all  and  in  you 
all."  My  years  of  sickness,  that  shut  me  in  my 
study,  gave  me  time  for  a  great  deal  of  careful  read- 
ing. And  no  emergency  has  since  come  to  me  in 
which  those  studies  have  not  borne  invaluable  fruit. 
But  more  than  my  books  taught  me  did  I  learn  of 
Christianity  from  teachers  like  Fathers  Hough,  and 
Babson,  Friend  and  Ferson  ;  from  daily  contact  with 
men  and  women  whose  lives  glowed  with  the  fervor 
of  their  own  beautiful  faith.  To  me  they  were  incar- 
nate Christianity. 

Then  I  was  all  the  time  enfolded  in  this  wonderful 
gospel  of  nature  on  this  New  England  coast.  The 
restless  ocean  ;  this  tumble  of  hills,  sown  with  rocks, 
the  deep,  quiet  pine  woods ;  the  summits  from  which 
I  looked  off  on  the  silver  circle  of  the  all-surrounding 
sea ;  the  fleets  of  fishing  boats,  like  troops  of  white- 
winged  spirits  of  the  deep,  dimly  seen  through  the 
morning  mists  along  the  horizon  line  ;  all  were  famil- 
iar as  the  floor  of  my  own  study.  Almost  every  foot 
of  this  Cape,  its  highways  and  by-ways,  I  remember, 
with  the  beloved  friends  who  walked  with  me  there. 
And  never  can  I  forget  the  old  church  with  its 
avenue  of  elms,  the  songs  of  birds  and  the  rustling 
of  leaves  mingling  with  our  summer  service,  as  I 
looked  from  my  pulpit  through  the  open  door.  All 
these  things  were  the  university  in  which  I  was 
trained  for  the  ministry  of  my  later  years. 


94  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

And  the  final  thing  I  would  say,  is,  that  I  believe 
I  owe  the  best  success  I  have  had  to  the  right  begin- 
ning here.  I  always  have  looked  upon  the  different 
Christian  denominations  as  doors  through  which  peo- 
ple of  different  types  of  nature  could  enter  and  make 
their  way  upward  to  the  high  table-land  of  our  com- 
mon Christian  faith.  As  for  myself,  I  fear  if  I  had 
tried  to  enter  through  one  of  the  old  ecclesiastical 
gates,  as  I  knew  them  in  my  youth,  I  could  not  have 
borne  the  burden  of  their  theologies,  and  would  have 
been  swept  off  into  the  great  throng  of  those  who 
have  no  resting-place  for  their  faith.  I  think  it  was 
well  I  was  not  launched  into  the  strife  of  criticism 
that  raged  about  the  Unitarian  Schools  of  that 
period.  Perhaps  if  I  had  been,  I  could  now  better 
appreciate  many  of  the  theological  and  philosophical 
feats  of  the  performers  in  the  "radical"  gymnasium 
of  to-day.  I  make  no  boast  of  superior  intelligence 
or  sounder  faith  than  others  ;  only  I  bless  God  that 
I  was  led,  providentially,  into  the  Kingdon  of  Christ 
through  the  heart-door  of  faith  in  the  Infinite  love 
of  God  ;  and  that  all  my  early  experience  in  this 
church,  and  the  branch  of  the  Church  Universal  to 
which  it  belongs,  fixed  me  for  life  in  a  confidence 
and  trust  in  the  love  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  men 
that  has  never  been  disturbed. 

So,  I  come  back  to  you  and  to  my  native  State, 
after  an  absence  of  twenty  eventful  years,  with  this 
thing  especially  to  say  to  you; — that  I  have  seen 
human  nature  in  many  of  its  forms,  have  studied 
society  in  its  varied  phases,  have  tried  to  learn  the 
secret  of  every  church  and  every  theory  that  has 
done  any  good  thing  for  mankind ;  and  it  seems  to 
me  more  clear  than  ever  before  that  the  living  side 


ADDRESSES.  95 

of  every  church,  and  the  vital  truth  in  all  our  new 
science,  philosophy,  literature,  society  and  states- 
manship converge  upon  that  high  table-land  of  Chris- 
tian faith  which  was  seen  in  vision  by  the  fathers 
of  our  Liberal  Christianity.  A  great  deal  that  is 
now  called  the  Christian  Religion  is  doomed  to  go 
down  stream  and  be  forgotten  ;  the  rubbish  of  Cath- 
olic superstition  ;  the  dry  lumber  of  evangelical  the- 
ologizing ;  the  drift  of  liberal  skepticism  ;  and  with 
them  a  whole  world  of  social  and  political  speculation 
for  which  humanity  has  no  farther  use.  But  as  the 
great  mountain  ranges  look  down  unmoved  upon  the 
lowland  floods,  sweeping  the  wrecks  of  the  genera- 
tions onward  to  the  sea  ;  so  will  abide  forever  the 
religion  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  central  high- 
land amid  the  changing  history  of  the  human  race. 
Believe  in  God  Almighty,  the  Infinite  Spirit  of  Love ; 
in  Man,  God's  immortal  Child,  created  in  His  image, 
educated  by  His  Providence  towards  a  final  success ; 
in  that  religion  whose  soul  is  a  perpetual  sacrifice  of 
love  and  a  constant  service  to  man  ;  in  Christ,  the 
Lord,  the  perfect  Man,  the  incarnate  love  of  God  ; 
in  the  Church  of  Christ,  the  Schoolmaster  appointed 
to  lead  all  nations  upward  to  the  open  heights  of  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven.  Then  let  what  will  come  and 
go,  we  have  a  foundation  immovable,  that  shall 
endure  through  the  life  that  now  is,  through  every 
life  that  is  to  come. 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Mayo's  Address,  the  following 
letters  from  former  pastors  were  read  : 

Albany,  N.  Y.,  October  7th,  1874. 

My  Dear  Mr.  Eddy  :  — Your  favor  of  the  ist  inst.  has  just 
reached  me,  via  Staten  Island.  Hence  the  seeming  delay  of 
this  response. 


96  UNIVERSALISM    IN    (iLOUCESTEK. 

It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  be  with  you  at  the  pro- 
posed celebration.  At  present,  however,  I  do  not  see  how  I 
can  promise  to  be  so.  Urgent  duties  here,  as  well  as  the  length 
and  expense  of  the  journey,  forbid  me  to  anticipate  the  tender 
joy  of  greeting  the  friends  in  Gloucester  whom  I  remember  so 
vividly  and  tenderly.  Please  say  to  any  who  may  wish  to  know 
the  reason  of  my  absence,  that  it  is  not  forgetfulness  of,  or  in- 
difference to  the  friends  of  former  years.  If  absent  in  body,  I 
shall  not  be  in  spirit.     May  you  have  a  solemnly  joyful  occasion. 

While  I  will  not  definitely  promise  the  letter  for  which  you 
ask,  I  will  try  to  answer  your  wishes  in  that  respect.  But 
should  my  poor  word  be  wanting,  you  will  hardly  miss  it  in 
the  multitude  of  good  words  that  will  hardly  fail  to  get  said  on 
the  occasion. 

I  know  not  what  hints  1  can  furnish  you  that  almost  any  of 
the  older  members  of  the  Society  could  not.  The  Society 
moved  calmly  —  it  never  moved  any  other  way  —  on  its  course 
during  my  ministry,  having,  as  I  think,  a  larger  congregation 
then  than  it  had  had  for  many  previous  years,  if  not  than  ever 
before.  This  was  owing  to  two  causes  —  the  growth  of  the 
town,  and  the  subsidence  of  old  disagreements.  The  Sunday 
School  grew  from  96  to  about  250  members.  The  galleries  in 
the  old  church,  which  were  inconvenient,  disagreeable,  unused, 
were  remodelled  and  made  desirable  for  sittings.  Gas  fixtures 
were  introduced  into  the  church.  My  salary  rose  at  one  time 
to  ^1600  per  annum,  which  was  the  largest  the  Society  had  then 
ever  paid,  and  was  always  promptly  paid.  As  to  the  religious 
hfe  of  the  parish,  God  only  knows  how  prosperous,  or  other- 
wise, that  was.  1  have  a  feeling  that  if  it  were  less  —  as  it  cer- 
tainly was — than  we  all  desired,  there  was  yet  a  tolerable 
degree  of  earnestness  and  devotion.  In  some  hearts  I  know 
the  sacred  flame  burned  very  brightly. 

Of  things  personal,  either  to  myself  or  to  any  of  the  friends, 
you  need  not  that  I  speak.  Could  1  be  with  you,  or  if  I  am 
able  to  write  you,  I  should,  or  shall  indulge  in  some  reminis- 
cences of  this  sort. 

Wishing  you  a  very  pleasant  and  profitable  time,  and  with 
kindest  regards  to  both  yourself  and  all  my  old  acquaintances, 
1  beg  leave  to  subscribe  myself, 

Faithfully  yours, 

W.  R.  G.  Mellen. 


ADDRESSES.  9/ 

Providence,  Oct.  19,  1874. 
Rev.  R.  Eddy, 

My  Dear  Sir: — I  have  received  through  you  the  invitation 
of  the  Committee  of  the  First  Independent  Church  of  Glouces- 
ter, to  attend  the  Centennial  Celebration  of  their  Society,  on 
the  3d  of  November.  On  many  accounts  it  would  give  me 
great  pleasure  to  comply  with  their  request.  Indeed,  I  feel  a 
very  strong  impulse  drawing  me  to  be  present  and  participate 
in  the  exercises  of  that  occasion.  But  there  are  other  reasons, 
more  powerful  still,  which  impel  me  to  decline.  Owing  to  the 
many  changes  that  have  occurred  in  my  life,  the  sorrowful 
experiences  I  have  endured  since  I  was  last  in  Gloucester,  the 
presence  of  so  many  of  my  former  friends,  and  other  memorials 
of  things  which  lie  in  my  mind  like  a  beautiful  dream,  would 
awaken  in  me  feelings  which,  as  yet,  I  am  but  poorly  fitted  to 
sustain.  I  trust  I  am  neither  morbid  nor  sentimental,  but  these 
are  the  impressions  which  I  find  myself  unable  to  overcome. 
Doubtless  they  are  still  further  strengthened  by  the  fact  that 
my  ministry  in  Gloucester  was  in  every  way  so  thoroughly  de- 
lightful. I  do  not  believe  it  is  possible  to  find  on  this  Conti- 
nent a  religious  society  more  generous,  thoughtful  and  sympa- 
thetic, or  that  treats  its  minister  with  a  more  dignified  and 
courteous  respect.  This  I  attribute  largely  to  the  fact  that  its 
foundations  were  laid  by  the  pious  hands  of  Murray,  and  that 
its  growth  and  development  were  watched  over  for  forty  years 
by  a  minister  of  such  staunch  integrity  as  Father  Jones,  who, 
in  the  spirit  of  St.  Paul's  injunction,  magnified  his  office  on  all 
occasions,  and  was  diligent  and  faithful  in  discharging  every 
duty  belonging  to  it. 

I  know  of  no  items  of  fact  or  suggestion,  during  my  min- 
istry, which  you  do  not  already  possess. 

Trusting  that  the  occasion  may  prove  all  that  the  friends 
anticipate  or  desire  for  it,  and  devoutly  praying  that  there  may 
be  other  centuries  of  prosperity  in  store  for  the  Parish,  I  remain 

Very  truly  yours, 

E.  H.  Capen. 

The  pastor  then  announced  that  the  Church  Rec- 
ords show  that,  in  1825,  a  young  man  joined  this 
church  who  intended  to  devote  himself  to  the  Chris- 


98  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

tian  Ministry.  That  intention  having  been  fulfilled, 
the  person  alluded  to  will  now  address  you.  Rev. 
Joseph  P.  Atkinson  responded,  in  substance  as 
follows  : 

I  love  this  town,  for  here  I  was  born  ;  my  friends 
and  kindred  are  here.  Many  whose  memories  I  cher- 
ish are  lying  in  your  cemeteries.  I  have  frequently 
spoken  from  your  pulpit.  I  remember  the  first  ser- 
mon I  ever  preached.  It  was  by  invitation  of  Father 
Jones.  He  didn't  like  to  be  called  Father,  he  wanted 
to  be  called  Brother  Jones.  He  often  used  to  say  : 
''  Call  no  man  father  upon  the  earth."  I  remember 
that  for  that  first  sermon  I  took  for  my  text  the 
whole  of  the  20th  chapter  of  Revelations.  Father 
Jones  thanked  me  for  such  a  ivonderful  sermon. 
How  plainly  I  remember  the  tithing-man  !  His  pew 
was  in  the  gallery,  about  midway.  There  was  a  pole 
run  up  from  the  pew,  seven  or  eight  feet  long, 
painted  white,  so  that  we  boys  might  know  where  he 
was.  The  tithing-man's  name  was  Newman.  I  have 
no  doubt  that  he  was  a  kind  man,  but  he  scowled  so 
at  the  girls,  and  rapped  the  boys  so  hard,  that  I 
thought  him  the  crossest-looking  Universalist  I  ever 
saw.  William  Tucker,  his  successor,  was  more  severe 
than  he.  He  would  leave  his  seat  and  go  round  the 
church,  striking  the  noisy  boys  with  the  knob  of  the 
stick,  and  the  refractory  girls  with  the  feather  which 
was  attached  to  one  end  of  the  stick.  I  remember 
how  attentive  we  were  in  prayer-time,  listening  for 
the  "amen,"  that  we  might  slam  the  seats  as  soon  as 
we  heard  it. 

I  well  remember  Father  Pearce  and  Drs.  Ferson 
and  Dale,  Brother  Elwell  and  many  others.  I  shall 
never  forget  them.     I  hope   I  shall  never  forget  the 


ADDRESSES.  99 

beautiful  faith  that  influenced  them  to  do  their  many 
good  works. 

The  Pastor  then  remarked  that  in  the  letters  re- 
ceived, and  also  in  the  remarks  made,  testimony  had 
been  borne  to  the  promptness  with  which  the  finan- 
cial concerns  of  the  Society  had  been  managed.  The 
treasurers  of  the  Society  have  been  but  few  in  num- 
ber. One  who  has  been  so  frequently  alluded  to  — 
Benjamin  K.  Hough  — held  the  office  forty  years. 
We  will  now  listen  to  his  successor,  who  also  bears 
a  portion  of  his  name  —  Benjamin  Hough  Corliss. 
Mr.  Corliss  responded  : 

The  hour  is  late,  and  it  will  not  do  for  me  to  speak 
at  any  great  length  on  this  occasion.  So  much  has 
already  been  said  that  we  have  literally  been  filled 
with  a  feast  of  good  things.  This  has  been  a  season 
of  great  pleasure  to  me. 

The  very  able  Address  of  our  Pastor,  to  which  we 
have  listened  to-day,  reviewing,  as  it  has,  the  history 
of  this  Church  and  of  Universalism  on  the  Cape  for 
a  period  of  One  Hundred  Years,  has  shown  us  how 
many  circumstances  connected  with  our  progress 
may  truly  be  regarded  as  providential.  Planted  in 
weakness,  we  have  grown  to  be  a  powerful  denomi- 
nation, exerting  a  mighty  influence  on  religious 
thought  throughout  the  world.  I  am  deeply  im- 
pressed with  a  sense  of  the  devotion  and  fidelity  of 
the  Founders  of  this  Church  to  their  convictions  of 
duty.  True  to  the  work  to  which  they  were  called, 
and  although  they  could  not  foresee  the  result  of 
their  labors,  they  patiently  wrought,  believing  that 
they  were  sowing  the  seeds  of  divine  truth.  Many 
sacrifices  were  required  of  them  ;  they  were  obliged 
to  break  away  from  old  associations,  and  ties  of  affec- 


lOO  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

tion  and  friendship  were  severed.  They  firmly  be- 
lieved in  the  great  doctrine  of  God's  Fatherhood, 
and  the  Brotherhood  of  Man,  and  were  determined 
to  lay  the  foundation  of  a  Church  to  be  built  on  this 
doctrine ;  for  which  they  suffered  persecution  and 
reproach,  were  subjected  to  calumny,  misrepresenta- 
tion, and  the  terrors  of  the  law.  Their  steadfast  and 
brave  example  has  brought  inspiration  and  hope  to 
thousands  of  believing  hearts. 

We  stand  here  to-night  at  the  beginning  of  a  new 
century,  and  have  reason  to  be  thankful  for,  and 
proud  of  the  lessons  they  have  taught  us.  Let  us 
be  faithful  to  duty  in  our  day  and  generation,  as  they 
have  been  true  and  devoted  in  the  past ;  and  may  the 
glorious  record  which  they  bequeath  to  us  be  re- 
garded as  a  sacred  legacy,  to  stimulate  and  quicken 
our  faith,  and  consecrate  us  more  earnestly  to  the 
work  of  life,  and  the  obligations  it  imposes. 

I  was  but  a  boy,  six  years  old  only,  at  the  time  of 
the  Semi-Centennial  Celebration,  and  consequently 
have  no  clear  recollection  of  that  event  in  our  his- 
tory. But  I  remember  well  many  of  the  men  whose 
names  have  been  so  often  spoken  this  day,  and  I 
ever  think  of  them  as  good,  true,  faithful  disciples, 
whose  bright  example  has  always  been  to  me  a  strong 
incentive  to  duty. 

A  complimentary  allusion  has  been  made  to  the 
Treasurership  of  the  Society.  In  April,  1818,  six 
months  before  I  was  born,  my  grandfather  became 
the  Treasurer.  In  1853  I  succeeded  him  to  the  office. 
I  was  justly  proud  of  the  honor  of  being  considered 
worthy  to  succeed  the  devoted  men  who  have  served 
the  Society  in  this  capacity,  and  to  have  my  own 
name  placed  on  the  record  in  connection  with  those 


I 


ADDRESSES.  101 

of  Somes,  Pearce  and  Hough.  It  has  been  my  aim 
and  desire  so  to  conduct  the  finances  of  the  Society 
as  not  to  be  deemed  unworthy  of  the  mantle  that 
has  fallen  upon  my  shoulders  ;  and  if  in  this  respect 
I  have  measurably  succeeded,  I  can  truly  say  I  am 
content. 

In  conclusion,  permit  me  to  say  that  I  am  grateful 
for  the  privilege  of  being  present  at  this  anniversary, 
and  of  participating  in  the  services  of  this  interesting 
occasion.  I  wish  also  to  express  the  confident  belief 
that  there  is  in  the  future  for  our  denomination, 
much  to  encourage  and  hope  for.  If  we  are  true  to 
ourselves,  and  live  up  to  the  teachings  of  our  glori- 
ous faith,  we  shall  abundantly  prosper,  and  our  light 
will  so  shine,  that  all  men,  we  trust,  will  eventually 
come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  and  be  blessed 
with  the  assurance  of  God's  all-embracing  love. 

When  Mr.  Corliss  had  concluded,  allusion  was 
made  to  the  fact  that  the  Old  World  having  sent  us 
Rev.  John  Murray,  it  was  a  pleasant  circumstance  at 
this  time  to  know  that  we  are  favored  with  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  Universalism  across  the  waters,  in 
the  person  of  Rev.  James  Ure  Mitchell,  of  Scotland, 
who  would  favor  us  with  a  few  words.  Mr.  Mitchell 
responded  with  a  song  which  he  had  improvised  for 
the  occasion,  and  then  said : 

I  am  an  old-fashioned  preacher.  I  believe  in  the 
old-fashioned  heaven  and  hell.  My  idea  of  hell  is 
much  older  than  that  of  Calvin.  Our  doctrines  are 
older  than  any  church  organization.  Let  us,  like 
Murray,  abide  by  the  Word  of  God  ;  let  us  show  forth 
in  our  lives  the  simplicity  of  the  Gospel ;  make 
Christ   and   Him   crucified  the  central  truth  we  pre- 


102  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

sent.  While  I  am  strengthened  by  intercourse  with 
the  people  of  our  faith  here,  some  things  are  painful 
to  me.  I  find  on  the  part  of  some  preachers  a  desire 
to  be  wise  above  what  is  written.  I  am  satisfied  that 
five  years  of  Murray's  life  did  more  good  for  the 
cause  of  truth  and  humanity  than  five  times  five 
spent  in  the  study  of  philosophical  essays.  When 
the  Universalists  of  Scotland  go  to  the  church,  it  is 
with  the  Bible  in  their  hands.  I  know  the  letter  is 
not  the  spirit,  but  the  spirit  cannot  be  found  inde- 
pendent of  the  letter  ;  the  chaff  is  necessary  to  the 
wheat.  The  pews  should  speak  to  the  pulpit,  as 
well  as  the  pulpit  to  the  pews ;  the  Bible  should  be 
personally  studied  by  all.  The  pioneers  of  our  faith 
went  to  the  people  with  the  Bible  in  their  hands  and 
in  their  hearts.  If  we  would  advance  in  the  work 
to  which  God  has  called  us,  let  us  be  students  of  the 
Word.  The  work  is  progressing  in  Scotland.  Many 
are  rejoicing  in  the  truth  of  the  Gospel  who,  twelve 
years  ago,  thought  the  Bible  a  bundle  of  riddles. 
Five  years  ago  I  entered  Dunfermline.  Our  doctrines 
were  strange,  and  I  a  stranger.  The  Sunday  before 
I  left,  I  found  there  573  who  received  the  hand  of 
fellowship  and  had  passed  from  darkness  into  light ; 
300  of  these  had  previously  been  in  a  state  of  prac- 
tical infidelity.  Work  is  going  on  in  the  old  towns 
of  Scotland.  Through  the  help  of  the  Woman's  Cen- 
tenary Association,  the  society  at  Edinburg  has  been 
reorganized.  If  the  people  of  to-day  are  as  happy 
in  reaping  as  your  fathers  were  in  sowing,  then  shall 
be  rejoicing.  Persecution  has  been  said  to  be  the 
seed  of  the  church.  Little  did  the  Old  World  think 
that  in  persecuting  Murray  they  were  planting  the 
seed  which  would  bring  forth  such   a  great  and  glo- 


ADDRESSES.  IO3 

rious  harvest.  Be  ye  steadfast;  stand  fast  in  the 
liberty  wherewith  God  has  made  you  free,  and  be 
not  weary  in  well  doing. 

The  services  having  now  been  protracted  until 
half-past  ten  o'clock,  were  brought  to  a  close  by  sing- 
ing the  Doxology  :  -  Praise  God  from  whom  all  bles- 
sings flow,"  and  the  Benediction  was  pronounced  by 
the  Pastor. 


REV.     AMORY     1).     MAYO 
Sixth  Pastor,  1846-1854. 


APPENDIX  A. 


LETTER  TO  REV.  ELI  FORBES. 

Glocester,  April  4th,  1776. 

Rev'd  Sir:  —  You  will  have  laid  before  you  the  Votes  of  the 
Parish  relating  to  your  Settlement,  and  as  it  may  be  of  great 
importance  to  you  as  well  as  to  us,  we  think  it  our  duty  to 
address  you  on  the  subject.  For  many  years  past,  our  trade, 
and  particularly  the  fishery,  by  which  our  chief  dependence  is, 
has  greatly  declin'd,  that,  except  a  very  few  persons,  we  have 
been  carrying  on  both  trade  and  fishery  to  a  very  great  loss ; 
that  many  of  us  have  sunk  thousands;  that  we  have  large  debts 
outstanding  which  will  be  entirely  lost.  Our  fishery  at  present 
is  at  an  end,  and  merchandize  abroad  very  dangerous  and  pre- 
carious ;  several  of  our  vessels  taken,  others  missing ;  our 
tradesmen  and  labourers  dependent  mostly  on  the  trade  for 
their  subsistence.  Should  the  Publick  dispute  continue  much 
longer,  our  fishery  must  be  entirely  ruined,  and  then,  of  course, 
all  other  business  of  any  consequence  here,  must  fail,  as  we 
are  at  such  a  distance  from  ye  country  that  it  will  be  in  vain  to 
expect  anything  therefrom  in  our  trade.  We  are  greatly  in 
arrears  in  our  taxes  of  every  kind  for  two  years  past;  new  and 
heavy  ones  increasing  daily;  most  of  our  people  gone;  not  the 
least  expectation  but  we  shall  be  put  to  ye  flight  again.  Two 
or  three  of  our  principal  traders  left  ye  parish ;  more  intend  it. 

Some  of  us  remember  the  Spanish  and  French  Wars  at  dif- 
ferent periods,  with  other  sore  calamities ;  but  never  did  our 
eyes  behold  such  a  Gloomy  Aspect  as  our  Affairs  wear  at  this 
season.  In  short,  time  would  fail  us  to  enumerate  the  many 
difficulties  that  attend  us.     We  are  desirous  that  that  Harmony 

105 


io6 


UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 


that  has  existed  for  these  many  years  in  this  Parish,  may 
continue.  But  if  you  should  think  proper  to  give  your  voice 
in  the  affirmative,  it  must  entirely  be  at  an  end,  as  we  shall  be 
obliged  to  take  such  steps  as  would  by  no  means  be  agreeable 
to  you  or  our  brethren.  Therefore  we  thought  it  our  duty  to 
apprize  you  of  this,  and  hope  your  Wisdom  will  direct  you  to 
that  which  will  be  to  your  Honour. 

We  are  your  most  Humb'l  Serv'ts, 


WiNTHROP  Sargent, 
Joseph  Foster, 
Sam'l  Sayward 
Brad'y  Sanders, 
William  Sargent, 
Wm.  Card, 
Jno.  Babson, 
Ignatius  Worth,  Sr., 
David  Pearce, 
John  McKean, 
James  Odell, 
John  Stevens  Ellery, 


Ebenezer  Parsons, 
Abraham  Sawyer, 
Benjamin  Webber, 
John  Davis, 
William  Morgan, 
Philemon  Parsons, 
George  Creighton, 
Epes  Sargent, 
James  Jordan, 
Philemon  Haskell, 
Nathaniel  Ellery, 
John  Stevens,  Jr. 


APPENDIX.  107 


APPENDIX  B. 


MR.  MURRAY  BEFORE  THE  COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY. 
A  witness  of  this  interview  has  left  the  following  account  of 
it :  '*  The  chairman  of  the  committee  opened  the  business.  '  We 
have  sent  for  you,  to  know  who  you  are,  and  from  whence  you 
came  ? '  '  Your  question  is  rather  difficult,  sir  :  I  hardly  know 
how  to  answer  you.  Do  you  mean  where  did  I  come  from  last  ? ' 
'  I  say  where  did  you  come  from  ? '  'I  have  been  in  various 
places  in  this  country,  sir.'  '  I  say  where  did  you  come  from 
when  you  came  into  this  country?'  'From  England.'  'From 
what  part  of  England?'  'London.'  'What  business  had  you 
to  come  to  this  country?'  'Business,  sir!  I  felt  disposed  to 
come,  and  came  —  '  '  What  business  have  you  in  this  town  ? ' 
'  The  same  as  I  have  in  every  town  where  I  happen  to  sojourn.' 
Here  one  of  the  committee  arose,  and  requesting  leave  to  speak, 
which  was  granted,  said :  '  I  conceive  we  have  sent  for  this 
man  to  know  from  whence  he  came,  who  he  is,  and  what  busi- 
ness he  has  here;  this  is  a  time  of  difficulty,  we  are  at  variance 
with  England,  he  calls  himself  an  Englishman,  we  do  not  know 
what  he  is.  He  associates  with  a  great  many  whom  we  look 
upon  as  enemies  to  this  country,  and  they  go  to  hear  him,  con- 
verse—  1  think  —  I  cannot  call  \i  preachiiig.'  Here  Mr.  Mur- 
ray would  have  spoken,  but  he  was  imperiously,  not  to  say 
impudently  commanded  to  be  silent,  and  his  accuser  proceeded, 
until  at  length  the  chairman  again  resumed:  'Where  did  you 
come  from  ?  We  want  to  know  where  you  were  born,  and 
brought  up  ? '  Mr.  Murray  answered,  'Gentlemen,  it  is  not  my 
wish  to  give  you  unnecessary  trouble.  I  was  born  in  England. 
Shortly  after  I  had  attained  my  eleventh  year  I  accompanied 
my  father  to  Ireland,  where  I  continued  many  years  under  his 
care.  When  I  was  between  19  and  20,  I  returned  to  England, 
where  I  abode,  living  generally  in  London,  until  I  quitted  it  for 


I08  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

this  country.  Since  I  came  into  this  country  my  residence 
has  been  in  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  the  Jerseys,  New  York, 
Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts  and  New  Hamp- 
shire.' 'What  did  you  come  into  this  country  for?'  '  In  pur- 
suit of  retirement,  but  concurrent  circumstances  rendered  me 
a  preacher.'  '  Have  you  any  credentials  ?  '  '  Yes,  sir.'  '  Show 
them.'  '  I  have  none  present;  there  are  many  in  this  town  who 
have  heard  me,  and  received  my  testimony ;  they  are  my  cre- 
dentials.' '  Ay,  that  is  nothing  —  you  see  he  has  no  authority. 
How  could  you  think  of  preaching  without  authority  ? '  '  When 
1  came  into  this  country  there  was  no  war;  I  believed  it  to  be 
a  land  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  —  every  charter  and  every 
law  made  among  yourselves  breathed  a  spirit  of  toleration.  I 
felt  assured  I  should  be  allowed  liberty  of  conscience ;  my 
intentions  were  upright.  A  conviction  that  God  has  ordained 
me  to  proclaim  the  Gospel  has  been  powerfully  impressed  upon 
my  mind,  and  I  am  still  convinced  that  I  ought  to  preach  the 
Gospel.'  'How  long  do  you  intend  to  stay  in  this  town?' 
'  I  do  not  precisely  know  ;  but  certainly  until  the  weather  and 
roads  shall  be  good,'  '  The  weather  will  do,  and  it  is  pretty 
good  travelling  now.'  [At  this  time,  the  weather  having  been 
extremely  severe,  the  roads  were  nearly  impassable.]  'I  do  not 
believe  I  shall  quit  Gloucester  until  April ;  about  that  time  I 
expect  to  commence  a  journey  to  Philadelphia.'  '  The  town  is 
very  uneasy  at  your  continuance  here,  and  we  are  a  committee 
of  safety.  We  are  to  take  up  all  strangers  and  send  them  out 
of  town.'  'Sir,  1  have  already  been  warned  out  of  town,  and  if 
you  be  apprehensive  of  my  becoming  a  charge,  I  can  procure 
bonds.'  One  of  the  committee  addressed  the  chair  for  liberty 
to  speak,  which  having  obtained,  he  said :  '  Your  stay  in  this 
town  is  cause  of  uneasiness  to  many ;  you  hurt  the  morals  of 
the  people,  and  a  great  many  who  hear  you  are  enemies  to  the 
country.'  '  Those  who  hear  me,  and  believe  what  I  deliver,  can 
never  be  injured  in  their  morals.'  '  I  do  not  believe  you.'  '  You 
have  not  heard  all  I  have  said  in  defence  of  my  persuasion.' 
'I  have  heard  enough;  I  neither  believe,  nor  like  it.'  'Well, 
sir,  there  is  no  act  of  assembly  to  compel  you  to  hear ;  but  you 
should  remember  your  neighbor  is  entitled  to  equal  liberty  with 
yourself.'  'You  deliver  very  erroneous  principles."  '  My  prin- 
ciples are  all  to  be  found  in  the  sacred  records  of  divine  truth.' 


APPENDIX.  109 

'  Ay,  so  you  say.'  '  I  was  not  apprized  that  I  was  cited  before 
a  spiritual  court.  Sir,'  addressing  the  chair,  'this  gentleman 
asserts  that  I  associate  with  a  great  many  enemies  of  this  coun- 
try. I  demand  that  they  be  pointed  out.  If  I  associate  with 
an  individual  of  this  description,  it  is  unknown  to  me.'  A  gen- 
tleman at  the  chairman's  elbow  observed :  '  Mr.  Chairman,  I 
think  we  have  no  business  to  answer  this  man  a  single  question; 
We  did  not  send  for  him  to  answer  his  questions,  but  to  ask 
questions  of  him.'  The  chairman  then  repeated  that  the  town 
were  very  uneasy,  and  advised  Mr.  Murray  to  depart  to  prevent 
further  trouble,  to  which  he  answered :  '  Sir,  I  have  been  nearly 
seven  years  in  this  country ;  perhaps  no  one  has  a  more  exten- 
sive acquaintance.  I  have  many  friends,  and  many  enemies. 
I  feel  that  I  am  a  friend  to  all  mankind,  and  I  am  happy  that 
no  circumstance  of  my  life  can  prove  the  contrary,  I  was 
invited  to  this  town,  and  I  have  been  cordially  received;  but 
it  seems  I  am  suspected,  because  I  associate  with  many  who 
are  enemies  to  this  country.  I  associate  with  Captain  Win- 
throp  Sargent,  pray  is  he  an  enemy?  During  my  residence  in 
this  place  I  have  never  heard  a  syllable  uttered  which  this  com- 
mittee ought  to  consider  as  reprehensible.  I  am  not  acquainted 
with  a  single  individual  who  appears  to  me  an  enemy  to  this 
country ;  two  or  three  worthy  characters  I  know,  who  do  not 
perfectly  approve  every  measure  which  has  been  adopted.  I 
have  recently  endeavored  to  recollect  how  many  gentlemen  the 
circle  of  my  connexions  from  Maryland  to  New  Hampshire 
contained,  who  were  suspected  of  being  unfriendly  to  the  pres- 
est  order  of  things,  and  I  could  number  but  five  persons,  not 
an  individual  of  whom  has  ever  been  proved  inimical  to  Amer- 
ican prosperity.  For  myself,  I  rejoice  in  the  reflection  that  I 
am  a  staunch  friend  to  liberty,  genuine  liberty.  It  is  well 
known  that  I  have  labored  to  promote  the  cause  of  this  coun- 
try, and  I  rejoice  that  I  have  not  labored  in  vain.  I  am  so  well 
known,  and  I  have  the  happiness  to  be  so  well  respected,  that 
his  Excellency,  General  Washington,  appointed  me  to  officiate 
as  Chaplain  to  several  Regiments.  I  should  have  imagined 
this  fact  would  have  been  sufficient  Credentials  here.  I  have 
injured  no  person  in  this  town.  I  am  invited  to  meet  my 
friends,  in  the  house  of  a  friend,  where  they  desire  me  to  read 
the  Bible,  to  comment  thereon,  and  to  unite  with  them   in  sol- 


I  10  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

emn  prayer  to  Almighty  God,  for  the  continuance  of  His  mer- 
cies to  us  as  a  people,  and  not  unto  us  only,  but  to  a  once  lost, 
and  now  redeemed  world.'  A  member  of  the  committee  ob- 
served that  they  could  not  be  answerable  for  anything  that 
might  be  done  by  a  Mob,  and  it  was  not  in  their  power  to  pre- 
vent it,  if  he  did  not,  without  delay,  leave  the  town.  Mr.  Mur- 
ray, laying  his  spread  hand  upon  his  breast,  answered:  *  Sir, 
I  feel  such  a  consciousness  of  innocence  here,  that  I  know  not 
what  it  is  to  fear.  It  is  with  perfect  composure  that  I  commit 
myself  to  God,  and  the  Laws  of  this  Commonwealth.  If  I 
have  broken  any  law,  let  me  be  punished  by  law ;  but  I  bless 
God  I  am  not  a  lawless  person.  Sir,  I  am  a  stranger  to  fear ; 
I  have  committed  no  action  worthy  of  punishment.  Sir,  I 
know  not  what  it  is  to  fear.  No  man  can  have  any  power  over 
me  except  it  be  given  to  him  from  above  ;  no  injury  can  be 
done  me  but  by  the  permission  of  my  God.  But  I  am  not 
afraid.  The  worst  this  Mob  can  do,  is  to  deprive  me  of  a  life 
which  I  have  been  many  years  quite  willing  to  resign.  Sir,  I 
commit  myself  and  my  cause  to  the  Ruler  of  Heaven  and  of 
Earth.'  One  gentleman  observed  that  the  rule  upon  Earth  was 
delegated  to  them,  or  words  to  that  effect;  when  Mr.  Murray 
rephed :  '  Sir,  I  conceive  the  God  of  Heaven  is  the  only  Ruler 
in  Heaven  above,  and  in  Earth  beneath,'  and,  addressing  the 
chair,  he  added :  '  Sir,  I  have  answered  every  question  you 
have  thought  proper  to  ask,  and  as  I  find  it  difficult  to  speak, 
I  am  so  very  ill,  I  will  take  leave  to  wish  you  a  good  evening. 
Gentlemen,  good  night,' "  when,  without  interruption,  he  de- 
parted. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  were  Members  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety ;  any  five  of  the  seventeen  made  a  quorum : 
John  Stevens,  Capt.  Jacob  Allen,  Maj.  Sam'l  Whittemore,  Capt. 
William  Coas,  Capt.  Winthrop  Sargent,  Capt.  Jacob  Parsons, 
Capt.  William  Ellery,  Samuel  Plumer,  Esq.,  Col.  John  Low, 
Mr.  Daniel  Thurston,  Capt.  John  Row,  Mr.  John  Hale,  Col. 
Peter  Coffin,  Deacon  Nathaniel  Haskell,  Mr.  James  Porter, 
Capt.  John  Smith,  Deacon  Hubbard  Haskell. 


APPENDIX.  Ill 


APPENDIX   C. 


ACTION  OF  THE  FIRST   PARISH  CHURCH. 
The  following  from  the  Records  of  the  First  Parish  Church, 
gives  a  full  account  of  the  dealings  of  that  body  with  its  absent- 
ing members.     The  records  are  literally  copied  : 

Feby.  ii,  1777.   the  Chh  met  by  appoints 

Voted.  That  Epes  Sargent  and  wife,  Winthrop  Sargent  and 
wife,  Ebenr.  Parsons  and  wife,  David  Pearce,  James  Millet, 
Lydia  Prentiss,  Rebecca  Smith,  Judith  Stevens,  Anna  Babson, 
Jemia.  Cook,  Hanh.  Tucker,  Nancy  Saunders,  and  Jemima  Par- 
sons be  called  upon  to  give  reasons,  if  any  they  had,  why  they 
absented  themselves  from  the  Worship  and  ordinances  of  God 
in  his  House. 

Voted  2^y.  That  the  following  letter  be  sent  to  each  of  the 
above  said  members — viz — We  have  observed  with  concern  that 
you  have  absented  yourselves  from  the  Worship  and  ordinances 
of  God  in  his  House  notwithstanding  your  Covenant  engage- 
ments to  the  contrary,  and  as  we  are  mutually  bound  as  a  Chh 
to  watch  over  one  another,  in  ye  Lord  and  to  admonish  one 
another,  as  occasion  may  require,  we  think  it  our  Duty  to  call 
upon  you  to  give  us  reasons,  if  any  you  have,  why  you  have  thus 
absented  yourselves  that  we  may  judge  of  the  same,  for  which 
purpose  we  shall  meet  again  in  the  Meeting  House,  on  Wednes- 
day, the  19th  Instant,  at  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon;  when  we 
pray  you  personally  to  appear  and  give  your  reasons  for  such 
absence,  either  in  writing  or  verbally  as  you  shall  chuse. 

We  are  with  tender  concern  most  affectionately  your  Brethren, 

Eli  Forbes,  Pastor. 

In  church  meeting,  Feby.  11,  1777. 

Voted  2}y-  That  Deacons  Haskel  &  Kinsman  be  desired  to 
carry  the  above  letter  to  each  of  the  aforesaid  delinquent  mem- 
bers. 


112  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER, 

Then  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  Wednesday,  the  19th  In- 
stant, then  to  meet  again  at  the  Meeting  House  at  3  o'clock 
afternoon. 

Feby.  19,  1777.  Met  by  adjournment  and  received  a  paper 
delivered  by  Ebe^.  Parsons  which  was  in  answer  to  the  Letter 
wrote  the  absenting  members  on  the  nth  Instant,  and  which 
was  as  follows — 

We  have  considered  the  Substance  of  your  Note^  and  not 
being  fond  of  contention,  lest  anything  should  pass  tending 
thereto,  we  think  it  best  thus  to  inform  you,  that  our  reasons  for 
our  absenting  ourselves  from  your  society  are  purely  of  a  reli- 
gious nature,  which  is  wholly  between  God  and  our  own  souls. 
We  trust  we  have  a  good  conscience  and  are  happy  in  ye  con- 
sideration yt  Jesus  only  is  appointed  our  Judge. 
Feby.  19,  1777.     To  the  Chh. 

Epes  Sargent  CATHne  Sargent 

WiNTHROP  Sargent       Jud.  Sargent 
EBENr  Parsons  Phebe  Parsons 

David  Pearce  Han^.  Tucker 

Rebecca  Smith  Lydia.  Prentiss 

JuDh  Stevens  Jemi.  Cook 

Anne  Babson  Jemj.  Parsons 

Nancy  Saunders 
which  paper  was  read  and  duly  considered  and 

Voted  I.  That  it  was  by  no  means  Satisfactory  to  the  Chh, 
or  as  containing  any  reasons  at  all  why  the  above  named  shd 
absent  themselves  from  the  worship  and  ordinances  of  God. 

Vot.  2iy.  That  an  answer  should  be  sent  to  the  absenting 
members  in  which  proper  notice  should  be  taken  of  ye  contempt- 
uous manr  in  which  they  treated  the  Chhs  Letter,  and  as  they 
have  given  no  reasons  at  all  for  their  absence,  that  they  be  fur- 
ther called  upon  to  give  those  reasons  if  any  they  have. 

Vot.  3.  That  Messieurs  Whittemore  &  Porter  assist  ye  pastor 
in  forming  the  above  sd  answer — then  the  meeting  was  ad- 
journed till  next  Sabbath  after  meeting  then  to  be  detained  to 
hear  the  answer. 

Feb.  23.  The  Chh  was  Stayed  after  the  public  services,  and 
the  answer  to  the  absenting  members  was  read  and  accepted, 
and  is  as  Follows — 


APPENDIX.  113 

The  ist  Church  of  Christ  in  Gloucester  send  again  to  their 
absenting  members. 

Beloved  in  ye  Lord 
Tho  we  are  not  fond  of  contention,  and  would  carefully  avoid 
anything  tending  thereunto,  yet  is  our  right  to  ask,  and  your 
duty  to  give  reasons  (if  any  you  have)  why  you  have  so  long 
absented  yourselves  from  our  communion  in  the  worship  and 
ordinances  of  God  in  his  House. 

We  did  not  expect  yt  you  would  treat  our  friendly  Letter 
which  was  wrote  in  the  Bowels  of  christian  meekness,  as  a  con- 
temptuous Note^  and  we  did  not  ask  you  why  you  absented 
yourselves  from  our  Society,  for  we  have  not  done  it,  nor  do  we 
ask  for  those  reasons  which  are  wholly  between  God  and  your 
Souls,  for  they  don't  belong  to  us. 

But  for  those  reasons  which  has  induced  you  to  absent  your- 
selves from  our  communion  in  ye  worship  and  ordinances  of 
God  in  his  House  and  those  reasons  being  purely  of  a  religious 
nature  as  you  intimate  cant  be  any  argument  why  we  shd  not 
be  favoured  with  ye  knowledge  of  them.  And  that  we  may 
keep  a  good  conscience  in  obede  to  our  Lord  and  master,  who 
is  our  supreme  Judge  as  well  as  yours,  we  call  upon  you  again 
for  your  Reasons,  assuring  you  that  what  you  have  ordered  we 
cant  receive  as  any  reasons  at  all  for  your  conduct  or  as  anyway 
Satisfactory  to  us. 

Tho'  you  may  treat  us  with  contempt  we  mean  to  treat  you 
with  christian  tenderness.     We  pity  and  pray  for  you  and  would 
not  neglect  anything  in  our  power  to  recover  you  from  those 
paths  in  which  you  have  Strayed  and  to  bring  you  back  to  the 
fold  of  Christ,  yt  in  attendance  upon  divine  ordinances  you  may 
be  nourished  up  unto  eternal  life.     Please  to  read 
Matew  XVIII,  15,  16. 
I  Cor.  X,  32. 
I  Thes.  X,  14. 
I  Pet.  Ill,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17. 
Eli  Forbes,  Pasr.  in  ye  name  and  at  the  desire  of  ye  Chh. 
Gloucester,  Feb.  23,  1777. 

Then  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  13th  of  next  March 
then  to  meet  at  3  o'clock,  p.  m. 

March  13.  Met  according  to  the  above  adjourmt  and  as  the 
absenting  members  did  not  see  fit  to   make  or  send  us  any 


114  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

answer  to  ours  of  the  23d  of  Feby  we  adjourned  again  to  the 
3d  of  April  next  then  to  meet  at  3  o'Clo  p.  m.  In  the  meantime 
the  Deacons  were  desired  to  Discourse  with  them. 

March  30.  the  Chh  was  Stayed,  and  the  Deacons  informed 
that  they  were  not  ready  to  make  report.  The  meeting  was  fur- 
ther adjourned  to  the  loth  Inst. 

April  10.  the  Chh  met  according  to  ye  last  adjourn'  when  the 
Decons  reported  that  they  had  seen  and  conversed  wite  sevel 
of  the  delinquent  members,  but  could  not  receive  any  satisfac- 
tory answers  or  reasons  why  they  absented  themselves — the 
Chh  voted  to  send  them  the  following  letter. 

The  I  Chh  of  Christ  in  Glocester  send  again  to  their  absent 
members — 

Beloved  in  the  Lord — 

We  are  very  sorry  that  you  refuse  to  give  us  any  sufficient 
reasons  why  you  absent  yourselves  from  the  House  and  ordi- 
nances of  God,  contry  to  your  most  solemn  Covenant  engage- 
ments. We  think  by  this  refusal  you  give  us  new  and  just  mat- 
ter of  off  ence ;  and  you  constrain  us  to  bear  our  joint  and  pub- 
lic Testimony  against  your  proceedings. 

1.  That  you  have  Separated  yourselves  from  our  worship 
and  communion  without  any  just  Cause  on  our  part. 

2.  That  you  refuse  to  meet  with  us,  or  to  give  us  any  reasons 
either  verbally  or  by  writing  why  you  have  thus  Separated  your- 
selves from  our  worship  and  Commu"  by  this  you  cast  contempt 
upon  the  Chh  of  Christ  and  refuse  to  Submit  to  yt  discipline  & 
Govermt  w^  he  has  ordained  in  his  Chh.  We  pray  you  to  Con- 
sider of  the  matter  well,  and  if  there  is  any  matter  of  grievance 
on  your  part,  pray  propose  some  method  by  wh  it  may  be  re- 
moved or  an  accommodation  may  take  place,  and  if  you  have 
any  matters  which  you  are  not  willing  slid  be  heard  and  judged 
of  by  the  first  Chh  of  Christ  in  Glocester,  we  are  ready  to  sub- 
mit the  matter  to  ye  Judgement  of  a  Council  of  Chhs  mutually 
chosen  for  that  very  purpose  and  will  subject  the  whole  of  your 
conduct  to  ye  inspection  and  Judgement  of  the  impartial,  and 
shall  for  the  present  wait  your  answer,  as  we  above  all  things 


APPENDIX.  115 

would    seek  and  pursue  the  things  that  make  for  peace   and 

whereby  we  may  edifie  one  another. 

and  subscribe  your  offended  Brethren 
Eli  Forbes  Pastor  in  ye  name  of  ye  Chh. 
Glocester  10  April  1777  in  Chh  meeting. 

May  I.  Chh  met  by  adjournt  after  the  Exercises  of  the  Pub- 
lic Fast  to  hear  what  our  delinquent  Brethren  had  to  offer  in 
defence  of  y  Separation  and  absenting  from  us  but  as  none  of 
them  were  present  nor  sent  anything  in  answer  to  our  last  letter 
the  Chh  adjourned  to  the  19  of  June  next. 

June  19  the  Chh  met  after  Lecture  but  we  heard  nothing  from 
our  delinquent  members  we  adjourned  to  the  next  Lecture 
wr>  we  proposed  to  meet  to  hear  what  said  delinquent  members 
have  to  offer  and  to  chuse  one  or  more  ruling  Elders  as  they 
should  think  proper — the  day  to  which  the  meeting  stands  ad- 
journed is  the  31  of  next  July. 

Octr  16  the  Chh  met  by  several  adjournt  and  hearing  nothing 
from  their  Separating  members  vote  unanimously  the  Following 

To  the    Separating   members   of   the   first  Chh  of  Christ  in 
Glocester. 
Christian  Friends 

We  the  first  Chh  of  Christ  in  Glocester,  have  for  a  long  time 
beheld  with  concern  your  Separation  from  our  worship  and 
communion.  We  have  compassionately  called  after  you  and 
upon  you  to  return  to  your  Duty,  or  to  favor  us  with  those  rea- 
sons by  which  you  mean  to  Support  or  Justifie  your  Separation. 
We  have  remonstrated  against  your  unreasonable,  unscriptural, 
unconstitutional  Behavior.  In  short  we  have  prayed  you  if 
you  have  any  matters  of  grievance  or  objection  to  lay  them  be- 
fore us,  or  propose  some  method  of  Removing  them — or  that 
you  wd  join  with  us,  and  Submit  the  matter  of  Grievance  or  ob- 
jection to  a  Council  of  Chhs  mutually  chosen — so  that  we  have 
done  every  thing  we  can  think  of,  on  our  Part  all  w^  you  have 
treated  with  a  silent  Neglect  yet  we  feel  the  Bowels  of  Christian 
compassion  &  tenderness,  and  are  constrained  from  the  love  we 
bear  to  our  common  Lord  and  you  to  admonish  you,  and  in  the 
Name  of  our  Lord  Jesus   and  by  the  authority  w^  he  has  com- 


Il6  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

mitted  to  his  Chh,  we  call  upon  you  again  to  return  to  our  wor- 
ship and  communion  that  there  may  be  no  Schism  in  the  Body, 
but  in  all  lowliness  of  mind  forbearing  one  another  in  love  En- 
deavoring to  keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  Bond  of  peace, 
as  there  is  but  one  God  and  Father  of  us  all,  one  Lord  Jesus, 
one  Baptism  and  one  hope  of  our  calling— for,  by  making  and 
keeping  up  this  unreasonable  and  unchristian  Separation  you 
counteract  the  Designs  of  Christianity  itself,  Dishonor  the 
Christian  Name,  offend  God  and  grieve  his  People  therefore  as 
you  love  God  and  Jesus  Christ  as  you  love  the  people  of  God 
and  the  Peace  of  Society  and  mean  to  support  the  order  and 
Discipline  of  the  Chh  of  Christ  return  to  our  Worship  and  Com- 
munion or  else  Shew  before  impartial  Judges  that  you  have 
good  and  sufficient  reason  for  your  Separation. 

E.  Forbes  Pastor 
in  ye  Name  of  ye  Brethren. 

Glocester  i6  Octr  1777. 

then  the  above  was  unanimously  voted  to  be  communicated 
to  Epes  Sargent  &  wife  Winthrop  Sargent  &  wife  Ebenr  Par- 
sons &  wife  David  Pearce  Lydia  Prentiss  Judith  Stevens  Re- 
beca  Smith  Anna  Babson  Jemima  Cooke  Hannah  Tucker 
Nancy  Saunders  Jemima  Parsons — 

the  same  to  be  committed  to  the  Care  of  Ebenr  Parsons  who  is 
desired  to  communicate  the  above  Admonitory  Letter  to  the 
above  named  Separating  members— then  the  meeting  was  ad- 
journed to  our  next  Lecture. 

Glocester  9  1778  at  a  Chh  meeting  voted  that  ye  followg  letter 
shd  be  sent  to  the  Separating  and  absenting  members  of  the 
Chh,  viz  — 

We  must  remind  you  again  yt  we  have  repeatedly  called  upon 
you  for  your  reasons  why  you  Separate  from  us,  and  absent 
yourselves  from  the  worship  and  ordinances  of  God  in  his 
House,  but  could  obtain  none.  You  said  "your  reasons  were 
purely  of  a  religious  nature  and  belonged  to  God  and  your  own 
Souls."  We  then  let  you  know  that  your  answer  was  no  ways 
satisfactory  and  in  the  most  friendly  manr  we  remonstrated  to 
you  which  you  treated  with  silent  neglect.  We  then  desired  the 
Deacons  to  discourse  you  upon  the  subject.  But  they  could 
obtain  no  sufficient  answer. 


APPENDIX.  117 

We  then  plainly  told  you  as  a  Chh  that  we  were  offended  and 
bore  our  joint  and  public  testimony  agst  your  proceedings  as 
being  unscriptural,  unconstitutional  and  contrary  to  your  most 
solemn  Covenant  Engagements. 

We  then  proposed  if  you  had  any  matter  of  Grievance,  you 
would  propose  some  method  of  removal  or  accommodation ;  or 
if  you  had  any  matters  which  you  were  not  willing  shd  be 
Judged  upon  by  the  Chh,  that  you  would  join  us  in  a  mutual 
Council,  and  that  we  were  willing  to  submit  all  matters  in  dis- 
pute to  the  inspection  &  Judgement  of  said  Council  all  which 
you  treated  with  contemptuous  Silence.  We  then  in  ye  Bowels 
of  Christ  did  admonish  and  intreat  you  pointing  out  your  Error, 
and  shewed  you  wherein  thro  the  whole  of  your  Separation  you 
had  counteracted  ye  very  Spirit  and  design  of  Christianity  but 
we  could  obtain  no  answer. 

We  have  waited  long  in  hope  that  the  rules  of  common 
decency  and  good  Breeding  (if  no  higher  Motive)  would  at 
length  have  induced  you  to  make  some  reply,  but  we  have 
waited  to  no  purpose.  Ergo  are  obliged  from  a  Sense  of  Duty 
to  our  great  Lord  and  Master,  to  you  and  to  ourselves  to  Sus- 
pend you  from  our  communion  and  you  are  accordingly 
Suspended. 

But  we  declare  at  ye  same  time  yt  we  are  ready  to  receive 
you  to  our  public  Charity  and  Communion  again  upon  your 
return  from  your  Error  in  sentiment  and  practice  and  offering 
such  Satisfaction,  as  the  Laws  of  Christianity  recognize  or 
ye  discipline  of  the  Chh  demands  and  subscribe  most  affection- 
ately your  offended  Brethren 

Eli  Forbes  Pastor. 


UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 


APPENDIX  D. 


MINISTERIAL  HELPERS. 
In  the  "  Answer  to  an  Appeal,"  it  is  said,  p.  20,  that  Mr.  Mur- 
ray has  in  "  his  train  a  Tyler,  who  (by  report)  is  a  Tory  Epis- 
copalian ;  a  Wright,  who  is  a  German  Moravian;  with  an 
illiterate  Townsend,  Streeter,  Parker,  a  duplicate  of  Win 
chesters,  etc.,  etc."  A  brief  notice  of  these  early  preachers,  and 
also  of  those  who  supplied  the  pulpit  in  Gloucester  from  1793 
to  1804,  may  not  be  devoid  of  interest  to  those  who  are  desirous 
of  knowing  something  of  the  contemporaries  of  Rev.  John 
Murray. 

Rev.  John  Tyler  became  Rector  of  Christ's  Church  in  Nor- 
wich, Conn.,  in  1769,  and  so  remained  till  his  death  in  1823. 
Mr.  Murray  preached  in  Norwich  as  early  as  1773,  and  was 
from  the  first  received  with  friendship  by  Mr.  Tyler,  who  be- 
came at  last  a  believer  in  Universalism,  on  the  Rellyan  plan. 
He  wrote  in  its  defence,  and  one  of  his  works,  entitled,  "Uni- 
versal Damnation  and  Salvation  clearly  proved  by  the  Scrip- 
tures of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,''  was  anonymously  pub- 
Hshed  in  Boston,  in  1798.  There  were  other  editions  of  later 
dates.  In  consequence  of  his  making  the  distinction  which  Mr. 
Murray  did,  between  salvation  and  redemption,  he  was  often 
misunderstood,  and  was  frequently  accused  of  denying  the  sen- 
timents taught  in  his  writings.  But  he  retained  his  Univer- 
salist  views  to  the  last.  Mr.  Tyler  frequently  preached  in  Glou- 
cester, and  occasionally  to  the  Universalists  in  Oxford.  Mass. 

Rev.  Matthew  Wright  was  not  a  German,  but  a  Dane. 
His  name  was  written  in  his  native  tongue,  Reuz,  and  was  by 
himself  anglicized  into  Rights,  as  it  is  now  by  families  of  that 
name  living  in  South  Carolina ;  but  his  contemporaries  spelled 
it  Wright.      "  He   was   educated,"  said   the   late  Rev.  Edward 


APPENDIX.  119 

Turner,  "at  the  University  of  Copenhagen,  was  a  man  of  emi- 
nent literary  attainments,  able  to  converse,  pray  or  preach  as 
well  in  Latin  as  in  his  mother  tongue.  He  was  a  Universalist 
in  his  early  youth,  and  used  to  speak  of  the  affectionate  re- 
monstrances of  his  mother  against  his  heresy.  He  was  Calvin- 
istic,  and  continued  Moravian  in  all  respects  excepting  the  idea 
of  the  universality  of  salvation.  He  was  'pure  in  heart,'  and  in 
life  of  the  most  sweet  and  amiable  disposition.  He  lived  in 
uncomplaining,  cheerful  poverty ;  frequently  teaching  school 
in  the  country  towns,  and  preaching  when  requested.  1  know 
not  when,  nor  where  he  died.  These  items  of  information  I 
had  from  an  aged  member  of  Mr.  Murray's  Society,  when  I 
was  a  young  man."  69 

Mr.  Wright  was  in  Gloucester  before  1785.  He  was  here  also 
in  1790  while  Mr.  Murray  was  attending  the  Convention,  and 
again  in  1793,  after  Mr.  Murray's  removal  to  Boston.  In  1754 
Matthew  Reuz  was  at  the  Moravian  Station  at  Bethlehem, 
Pennsylvania,  whence  he  was  occasionally  sent  out  to  preach 
to  the  Swedish  settlers  on  the  Delaware.  He  frequently 
preached  at  Cohansey,  Penn's  Neck,  Piles'  Grove,  and  Maurice 
River,  New  Jersey.^o  If  this  was  our  Matthew  Wright,  which 
is  probable,  we  have  an  insight  into  some  of  the  causes  which 
led  to  the  formation  of  Universalist  Societies  at  all  these  places, 
except  the  last,  as  early  as  1789. 

Shippie  Townsend  was  a  Block  maker,  in  Boston.  He  was 
a  man  of  fair  education,  a  terse  writer,  and  occasionally 
preached  in  Boston,  and  on  two  or  three  occasions  in  Glou- 
cester. He  was  probably  the  first  layman  to  wield  the  pen  in 
exposition  and  defence  of  Universalism,  in  New  England. 
From  about  1785  to  1793,  he  published  ten  or  eleven  pamphlets, 
which  in  1794  he  gathered  into  a  volume  of  376  pp.,  publishing 
the  compilation  under  the  title  of  "Gospel  News."  He  died  in 
1800,  at  an  advanced  age. 


ti!'  Universalist  Quarterly,  Vol.  vi:  p.  ii.  1  have  in  my  possession  a  letter 
written  by  Mr.  Rights  in  1783.  At  this  time  he  was  teaching  school  in  Taunton, 
Mass. 

^^  See  Vol.  xi.  Memoirs  0/  the  Historical  Society  of  Pefinsylvania,  pp.  410, 
440,  442. 


120  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Rev.  Adams  Streeter  became  a  Universalist  in  1777  or 
1778,  prior  to  which  date  he  had  been  for  several  years  a  Bap- 
tist Clergyman.  His  first  preaching  to  UniversaHsts  was  at 
Oxford,  Mass.,  the  records  of  that  Society  showing  that  for  a 
number  of  years  prior  to  1785  they  had  "  supported  him  by  free 
contributions."  In  1785  he  divided  his  time  between  Oxford 
and  Providence,  R.  I.  In  1786  he  was  at  Boston  once  in  two 
weeks  until  about  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  sud- 
denly at  Smithfield,  R.  I.,  in  August  of  that  year.  He  is  rep- 
resented as  having  been  "a  man  of  good  natural  powers,  which 
had  not  been  much,  or  well,  cultivated ;  a  very  free,  easy,  elo- 
quent speaker.  The  Calvinistic  elements  entered  largely  into 
his  discourses."  His  visits  to  Gloucester  were  probably  for  the 
purpose  of  exchange  with  Mr.  Murray,  enabling  the  latter  to 
visit  Providence  and  Boston. 

Rev.  Noah  Parker  probably  never  received  Ordination. 
He  was,  prior  to  1777,  a  mechanic,  a  blacksmith,  known  as  an 
honest  and  upright  man,  "  with  a  fair  education,  a  large  think- 
ing brain,  an  easy  gift  of  utterance,  and  a  soul  all  aglow  with 
love  for  the  gospel."  He  became  a  UniversaHst  under  the 
preaching  of  Mr.  Murray  during  his  frequent  visits  to  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.,  and  after  several  years  of  study,  with  such 
assistance  as  Mr.  Murray  could  give  him,  he  commenced  on 
the  year  above  mentioned,  his  ministry  to  a  Society  of  believers 
who  had  begun  to  hold  meetings  in  a  school-house  in  that  town. 
Seven  years  later,  the  cause  having  prospered  under  his  min- 
istry, his  people  erected  a  House  of  Worship,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued to  be  their  minister  until  his  death  in  1787.  Mrs.  Mur. 
ray  gives  him  the  reputation  of  an  "  Exemplary  Philanthropist." 
He  was  a  decided  Rellyan,  much  beloved  and  respected  by  Mr. 
Murray,  with  whom  he  frequently  exchanged. 

Rev.  Elhanan  Winchester  was  by  far  the  most  eminent 
of  all  the  early  Universalist  preachers,  in  theological  learning 
and  intellectual  power.  He  entered  the  Baptist  Ministry  in 
1769,  and  avowed  himself  a  UniversaHst  in  1781,  after  a  severe 
conflict,  for  nearly  three  years,  with  his  doubts  and  hopes  on 
the  subject.  Originally  a  staunch  Calvinist,  he  became,  on  em- 
bracing Universalism,  an  Arminian,  and  so  of  course  advocated 


FORBES    CO. 


REV.     W.     R  .     G  .     M  E  L  L  E  N 
Seventh  Pastor,  1855-1861. 


APPENDIX.  121 

the  final  salvation  of  the  race  on  very  different  principles  from 
those  held  by  Mr.  Murray.  Their  personal  relations,  however, 
were  exceedingly  pleasant  and  affectionate.  Mr.  Winchester 
preached  in  Philadelphia  four  years  after  becoming  a  Univer- 
sahst,  and  spent  the  winter  of  1785-6  in  New  England,  and  was 
in  Gloucester  a  few  times  during  that  season.  The  next  year 
he  went  to  England,  where  he  remained  seven  years,  constantly 
busy  with  his  pen  and  voice.  Returning  to  America  in  1794,  he 
preached  in  various  parts  of  the  country  until  midwinter  of 
1796,  when  he  was  prostrated  by  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs, 
which  left  him  in  a  condition  of  debility  from  which  he  never 
recovered.  His  death  occurred  April  18,  1797,  when  he  was  in 
his  46th  year.  His  pubhshed  books  and  pamphlets  number 
about  forty  titles,  and  he  wrote  much  besides,  for  various  Mag- 
azines. A  Memoir  of  Winchester  was  pubhshed  in  London 
shortly  after  his  death,  by  Rev.  William  Vidler;  and  another 
from  the  pen  of  Rev.  E.  M.  Stone,  in  Boston,  in  1836.  Both  of 
these  have  long  been  out  of  print. 

Rev.  Moses  Winchester  was  a  half-brother  of  Elhanan, 
and  commenced  preaching  after  his  more  distinguished  brother 
had  become  a  Universahst.  But  little  is  known  of  him.  Most 
of  his  preaching  was  in  New  Jersey.  He  came  to  Gloucester 
in  the  winter  of  1785,  and  remained  in  New  England,  frequently 
visiting  this  place,  about  a  year.  I  think  it  probable  that  he 
was  a  Rellyan,  as  Mr.  Murray  speaks  of  him  as  having  "  clearer 
views  of  the  Gospel  preached  unto  Abraham,  than  his  brother 
has."     He  died  in  Philadelphia  in  1793. 

Rev.  Hosea  Ballou.  I  cannot  give  any  just  idea  of  this 
remarkable  man,  who  in  so  many  respects  recast  the  Univer- 
sahst theology,  in  the  brief  space  contemplated  for  these  notes. 
Reference  must  be  had  to  his  Biography,  published  by  his  son, 
Maturin  M.  Ballou,  in  1852,  or  to  the  more  extended  Memoir 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Whittemore,  in  1854. 

Rev.  Thomas  Barns.  The  family  now  write  the  name 
Barnes,  but  I  have  retained  the  spelling  used  by  himself.  Mr. 
Barns  was  born  in  Merrimac,  N.  H.,  Oct.  4th,  1749.  Early  in 
life  he  joined  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  continued  to  be 


122  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

a  member  till  1782,  when,  under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  Caleb 
Rich,  he  became  a  believer  in  Universalism,  and  soon  after 
began  to  preach.  His  first  settlement  was  at  New  Fane,  Vt., 
afterwards  in  Oxford,  Mass.,  and  for  about  two  years,  dating 
from  1792,  he  itinerated  in  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island  and 
Massachusetts,  having  his  home  at  Woodstock,  Ct.  His  first 
preaching  in  Gloucester  was  May  25th,  1794,  from  which  time 
till  the  fall  of  1798  he  was  the  principal  minister  of  the  Society. 

Capt.  Joseph  Pearce,  who  had  been  an  attendant  on  Mr. 
Murray's  ministry  here,  received  from  his  brother  William  a 
gift  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  located  in  New 
Gloucester,  Maine,  and  removed  there,  probably  before  Mr. 
Murray  left  Gloucester.  For  several  years,  as  there  was  no 
preaching  near  enough  for  them  to  attend,  he  met  with  his 
neighbors  at  each  other's  houses,  on  Sundays,  for  religious 
worship  and  conversation.  It  fell  to  his  lot  to  take  the  lead  in 
these  services,  and  before  long  it  was  found  that  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  settlers  of  that  and  the  adjoining  towns  were  Univer- 
salists,  who  empowered  him  to  obtain  a  minister  of  that  faith 
to  take  up  his  abode  with  them.  At  once  he  wrote  to  his 
brother  William  for  information  and  advice  ;  who  proposed  to 
Mr.  Barns  to  visit  the  District,  and  made  generous  offers  of 
assistance  if  he  would  settle  there. 

After  making  them  a  visit  in  1798,  Mr.  Barns  concluded  to 
remove  to  Maine,  which  he  did  the  following  winter,  taking 
only  a  portion  of  his  family  with  him,  his  wife  and  younger 
children  remaining  at  Woodstock  till  a  more  favorable  season 
for  what  was  then  a  long  and  difficult  journey.  The  following 
extract  from  a  letter  written  during  his  journey  will  show  the 
tediousness  of  travel  in  those  days. 

"Portland,  Feb.  16,  1799. 
My  Dear  Wife  and  Children:  — If  I  had  time  I  would 
write  you  a  long  letter,  but  I  am  now  in  Portland,  engaged  in 
business  among  my  friends.  Expect  to  preach  in  this  neigh- 
borhood to-morrow.  We  have  arrived  safely  at  Poland,  where 
we  are  kindly  received.  Our  journey  was  longer  than  I  ex- 
pected. We  were  hindered  some  by  an  ox  falling  sick  the 
third  day  of  our  journey.     Lucy  had  a  short  turn  of  the  asthma, 


APPENDIX.  123 

which  hindered  us  part  of  two  daysJi  We  were  also  hindered 
some  by  a  storm,  which  altogether,  made  our  journey  eighteen 
days,  and  our  expenses  twenty-three  dollars.  If  the  Spring  is 
forward  with  us,  I  shall  come  for  you  before  planting,  but  you 
will  excuse  my  not  coming  in  planting  time.  The  scarcity  of 
hay  for  120  miles  of  the  journey,  will  make  our  journey  costly 
before  planting.  If  I  stay  till  after  planting,  the  grass  will  be 
plenty,  the  days  long,  and  the  riding  good." 

Mr.  Barns'  friends  assisted  him  in  the  purchase  of  a  farm  in 
the  town  of  Poland,  on  which  he  continued  to  reside  till  his 
removal  from  earth.  A  few  Societies  were  immediately  formed, 
which  in  October,  1799,  organized  the  Eastern  Association, 
now  the  Maine  Convention.  The  circuit  in  which  he  preached 
for  several  years  was  extensive;  "the  travel  necessary  for  his 
Sabbath  engagements  amounted  to  about  forty  miles  on  an 
average,  which  he  performed  on  horseback  in  the  summer  and 
in  a  sleigh  in  the  winter;  and  storms  were  seldom  so  violent  as 
to  detain  him  from  fulfilling  his  appointments."  In  1814  he 
was  attacked  with  heart  disease,  which,  not  long  after  its  com- 
mencement, was  pronounced  incurable  by  his  physicians.  The 
intelligence  was  received  with  composure,  and  after  familiar 
conversation  with  his  family  concerning  the  near  approach  of 
death,  he  proceeded  to  regulate  his  temporal  affairs,  and  to 
preach  farewell  discourses  to  the  several  societies  that  had 
been  blessed  with  his  ministry  for  seventeen  years.  Thursday, 
Oct.  3d,  1816,  he  died  suddenly,  in  his  barn,  while  engaged  in 
threshing  wheat,  aged  67  years. 

As  a  man,  Mr.  Barns  was  respected  by  all  who  knew  him, 
and  held  in  high  repute  for  sound  judgment  and  unimpeachable 
habits.  He  represented  the  District  of  Maine,  in  the  Legisla- 
ture of  Massachusetts,  several  sessions,  in  which  position  he 
did  himself  honor,  and  faithfully  served  the  State.  As  a 
preacher  he  was  sound  and  instructive,  eminently  successful 
as  a  controversialist,  and  a  Son  of  Consolation  to  the  sorrow- 
ing. Concerning  him,  the  late  Hosea  Ballou  wrote:  "In  the 
little  circle  of  the  preachers  of  Universalism,  at  the  early  date 

■Ji  Lucy  Barns,  his  daughter,  was  a  zealous  and  devoted  Universalist.  She  was 
the  author  of  a  pamphlet  entitled,  "  Serious  and  Important  Questions,  with  Scrip- 
ture Answers;  "  of  which  many  thousand  copies  have  been  put  in  circulation.  She 
died  in  1839. 


124  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

to  which  I  refer,  Br.  Barnes  was  esteemed  as  one  of  the  first  for 
streno-th  of  mind,  for  extensive  acquaintance  with  the  Scrip- 
tures, for  ease  in  speaking  and  force  in  argument.  In  the 
wider  circle  of  believers  in  the  impartial  Gospel  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  Br.  Barnes'  labors  were  much  sought  and  highly  prized; 
nor  was  he  less  esteemed  for  his  integrity,  honesty,  and  general 
moral  character,  than  for  his  ministerial  talents." 

Rev.  Zephaniah  Lathe  was  originally  a  Baptist  preacher, 
at  Grafton,  Mass.  He  became  a  Universalist  about  1785.  In 
becoming  a  Universalist  he  dropped  the  Calvinistic  doctrine  of 
necessity.  He  is  represented  as  having  been  well  read  in  The- 
ology, Metaphysics  and  History,  and  as  being  held  in  high 
esteem  by  all  who  knew  him,  as  a  deep  and  patient  thinker, 
and  a  man  of  eminently  Christian  spirit.  He  preached  statedly 
for  several  years,  in  Hard  wick,  Petersham,  and  Grafton,  Mass., 
and  also  in  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  and  was  besides  a  self-constituted 
missionary  in  all  the  New  England  States.  He  was  one  of  the 
Committee  to  draft  the  Winchester  Profession  of  Belief.  His 
first  preaching  in  Gloucester  was  June  15th,  1794.  He  came  at 
the  solicitation  of  Rev.  George  Richards,  who  wrote  to  the 
committee  :  "  As  he  has  undertaken  this  journey  on  my  recom- 
mendation of  you,  I  entreat  that  he  may  be  received  as  a 
brother  well  beloved;  and  if  you  should  not  wish  to  employ 
him  in  future,  I  beg  that  he  may  be  forwarded  towards  his 
home  in  the  blessings  of  Love,  for  I  have  a  great  affection  for 
him  and  his."     He  died  April  29th,  1828,  aged  74. 

Rev.  Isaac  Mansfield,  born  at  Marblehead,  in  1750,  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College  in  1767.  He  was  Ordained  as  a  Con- 
gregationalist  Clergyman  in  1776,  and  settled  over  the  First 
Church,  in  Exeter,  N.  H.,  where  he  remained  till  1787,  when 
he  was  dismissed  by  a  Council  called  for  that  purpose,  "  accord- 
ing to  his  agreement  with  the  parish."  What  the  circum- 
stances were  which  pft-oduced  "  such  a  crisis  as  to  render  a  sep- 
aration eligible  on  both  parts  "  cannot  be  ascertained ;  but  the 
Council  say,  as  put  on  the  records  of  the  Exeter  Church,  "  We 
feel  ourselves  constrained  by  duty  and  love  to  testify  the  sense 
we  have  of  the  valuable  ministerial  gifts  and  qualifications  with 
which  God  hath  furnished  Mr.  Mansfield,  and  which  have  been 


APPENDIX.  125 

well  approved  not  only  among  his  own  people,  but  by  the 
churches  in  this  vicinity."  He  removed  from  Exeter  to  Mar- 
blehead,  where  he  became  a  magistrate,  and  was  afterwards 
known  as  Isaac  Mansfield,  Esq.,  succeeding  in  office,  his 
father,  Isaac  Mansfield,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1792.  Whether  he 
had  become  a  Universalist  before  leaving  Exeter,  is  unknown; 
but  his  reputation  as  a  Universalist,  seven  years  later,  caused 
the  following  letter  to  be  sent  to  him : 

Gloucester,  March  i8th,  1794. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  The  Rev'd  Mr.  John  Murray,  who  has  long 
ministered  to  us  in  preaching  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation, 
greatly  to  our  satisfaction,  has  thought  it  his  duty  to  preach 
ye  same  to  a  much  larger  congregation  in  Boston;  which  we 
should  greatly  regret  if  we  did  not  hope  that  he  would  be  the 
means  of  advancing  the  knowledge  of  the  great  salvation  of 
Jesus  Christ  to  ye  great  joy  of  many  of  our  fellow-heirs  of 
salvation. 

The  Society  in  this  place  are  at  this  time  destitute  of  a  pub- 
lick  preacher.  They  wish  to  meet  together  as  often  as  they 
can,  and  have  the  same  Gospel  preached  to  them  that  the  dis- 
ciples of  our  Blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  preached.  Having 
tasted  of  ye  good  word  of  God,  they  rejoice  therein.  From  what 
they  have  heard  of  you,  that  you  have  been  taught  by  the 
Spirit  of  Jesus,  they  wish  you  to  come  and  see  them  and  speak 
to  them,  a  few  Lord's  days,  at  least,  if  you  can  find  your  mind 
clear;  they  not  doubting  but  the  Great  Lord  of  the  Harvest 
will  dispose  your  mind  and  theirs,  to  His  Glory. 

For  this  purpose,  Mr.  Wm.  Card,  one  of  the  committee,  waits 
on  you  to  invite  you  to  preach  with  us  one  or  two  days  in  the 
present  month,  if  you  can  make  it  convenient. 

We  are.  Dear  Sir,  with  great  esteem,  your  Friends  and  Breth- 
ren at  command. 

David  Plumer, 
Isaac  Elwell, 
William  Card, 
Committee  of  the  Christian  Independent  Society  of  Gloucester. 

To  this  request  Mr.  Mansfield  responded  by  preaching  in 
Gloucester  the  following  Sunday.  I  find  no  account  of  any 
subsequent  visit.  Mr.  Mansfield  died  in  Boston,  September, 
1826,  aged  76. 


126  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Rev.  Michael  Coffin  was  the  son  of  John  Coffein, — as 
the  name  was  originally  written,  —  who  was  the  first  settler  of 
Cavendish,  Vt.,  in  1769.  In  the  fall  of  1790,  which  is  the  first 
mention  I  find  of  Mr.  Coffin,  he  visited  Mr.  Murray,  and  was 
then  "  preaching  on  the  confines  of  Canada,"  probably  in  Ver- 
mont. Three  years  later  he  was  at  Oxford,  Mass.,  where  he 
remained  till  1797.  He  was  always  noted  for  eccentricities,  and 
was  finally  silenced  as  an  unprofitable  preacher. 

Rev.  John  Foster  was  originally  a  Congregationalist 
preacher.  While  serving  in  this  capacity  in  Taunton,  Mass., 
he  became  a  Universalist.  Subsequently  he  joined  Thomas 
Paine  and  Elihu  Palmer,  in  New  York,  in  avowed  infidelity, 
and  was  indicted  in  the  Courts  for  blasphemy.  He  then  gave 
himself,  for  several  years,  to  fitting  young  men  for  college ; 
and  finally  became  very  much  degraded  in  morals.  He  died  in 
the  winter  of  1844,  at  the  advanced  age  of  90.  A  gifted  and 
talented  man,  but  never  reliable,  he  was  no  honor  to  any  sect, 
and  was  discountenanced  and  silenced  as  soon  as  his  character 
became  known. 

Rev.  George  Richards  was  born  in  or  near  Newport,  R.  I., 
about  1755,  and  was  educated  in  the  higher  branches  of  learn- 
ing under  the  care  of  a  clergyman  in  Newport,  who  gave  him, 
as  he  often  remarked,  "  as  extensive  advantages  as  he  could 
have  enjoyed  under  Dr.  Manning,  President  of  Brown  Uni- 
versity." During  a  portion  of  the  Revolutionary  War  he  was 
Chaplain  and  Purser  under  Commodore  Manly;  after  which  he 
taught  school  in  Boston.  In  1786,  while  teaching  in  Boston,  he 
officiated  as  Reader  in  the  North  Episcopal  Church  in  that 
city,  and  the  next  year  began  to  preach  Universalism.  From 
that  time  until  Mr.  Murray's  removal  to  Boston,  he  continued 
to  teach  school,  and  to  preach  in  that  city  and  vicinity.  In 
1793  he  removed  to  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and  was  pastor  of  the 
Universalist  Society  there  until  1809,  when  he  went  to  Philadel 
phia  as  pastor  of  the  Lombard  St.  Church.  He  was  one  of  the 
committee  to  draft  the  Winchester  Profession  of  Belief,  and 
was  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  active  and  respected  min- 
isters in  our  denomination.  Recently,  by  Mr.  Haven  of  the 
American    Antiquarian    Society,  and  by  Rev.  E.  E.   Hale,  his 


APPENDIX.  127 

fame  as  a  patriotic  poet  has  been  celebrated  in  the  pages  of  the 
"Transactions"  of  the  Antiquarian  Society,  and  in  the  "Old 
and  New."  Several  of  his  hymns  are  still  in  use.  He  was  also 
an  eminent  Free  Mason,  and  for  a  while  edited  the  "  Free 
Masons'  Magazine."  Possessed  of  keen  sensibilities,  he  never 
failed  to  go  to  the  full  extent  of  his  means  in  relieving  the  poor, 
he  sorrowed  most  deeply  with  those  who  were  in  trouble,  and 
was  sorely  pained  whenever  the  thoughtless  or  disorderly 
brought  reproach  on  the  cause  which  he  loved.  The  death  of 
his  wife,  at  a  time  when  secular  troubles,  growing  out  of  polit- 
ical differences,  were  dividing  his  church,  so  keenly  affected 
him  as  to  produce  a  dangerous  sickness,  in  the  midst  of  which 
he  became  insane.  Recovering  from  this  sickness  sufficiently 
to  attend  to  some  trifling  business,  but  not  becoming  wholly 
sane,  he  soon  became  the  victim  of  fixed  insanity,  and  on  the 
night  of  March  ist,  1814,  he  closed  his  mortal  career. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Paine  was  in  Gloucester  not  more  than 
twice.  He  was  not  a  man  of  learning,  nor  of  stability;  and 
was  disfellowshipped  by  the  Convention  in  181 2. 

Rev.  Edward  Turner  had  been  preaching  three  years 
when  he  came  to  Gloucester.  He  was  active  in  all  denomina- 
tional matters,  a  constant  attendant  on  and  worker  in  the  Con- 
vention for  over  twenty  years ;  and  then  one  of  the  number  who 
felt  compelled  to  withdraw  and  to  enter  the  new  organization 
of  Restorationists.  His  name  ranks  high  in  our  early  history, 
on  account  of  his  abilities,  his  character,  and  the  almost  con- 
stant demand  for  his  services  in  the  general  cause.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  and  best  writers  in  defence  of  our  faith,  a  pop- 
ular preacher,  a  hymnologist  of  no  small  merit,  and  an  ac- 
knowledged Christian  in  life  and  spirit.  After  1828  his  min- 
istry was  spent  in  the  Unitarian  denomination,  but  without  any 
change  of  his  views  as  to  Universal  salvation.  He  died  in 
1853,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his  age.  Rev.  E.  G.  Brooks^ 
D.  D.,  published  a  Biographical  sketch  of  Mr.  Turner  in  the 
"  Universalist  Quarterly"  for  1871,  which  contains  valuable 
information  with  regard  to  the  man,  and  also  with  reference  to 
the  Restorationist  controversy. 


128  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Rev.  Joshua  Flagg  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  tal- 
ents, of  a  ready  address,  and  especially  gifted  in  prayer.  He 
was  a  strong  controversialist,  but  so  eccentric  in  his  early  life 
that  his  services  lacked  uniformity,  and  at  times  he  was  not 
equal  to  the  demands  of  the  occasion,  or  the  expectations  of 
his  friends.  In  later  life  his  devout  spirit  predominated,  and 
his  soul  was  cheered  by  intelligence  of  the  religious  growth  of 
any  Christian  sect.  He  lived  in  the  enjoyment  and  comfort  of 
his  faith  until  Nov.  loth,  1859,  when  he  passed  away,  in  the 
87th  year  of  his  age. 

Rev.  Isaac  Root  was  "a  man  of  strong  talents,  clear  views, 
and  great  personal  worth."  He  had  been  a  Baptist  preacher. 
He  was  in  Gloucester  but  one  Sunday.  In  1815  he  moved  to 
Western  New  York,  where  he  died  about  181 8. 

Rev.  Noah  Murray  was  a  native  of  Litchfield  County, 
Conn.,  where  he  was  born  in  1745.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
War  for  Independence ;  at  the  close  of  which  he  removed  to 
Lanesboro',  Mass.,  where  he  commenced  preaching  as  a  Bap- 
tist. In  a  few  years,  as  early  as  1785,  he  became  a  Universal- 
ist,  and  after  preaching  a  short  time  in  Duchess  Co.,  N.  Y., 
settled  near  Tioga  Point,  Penn'a,  in  a  township  which  was 
called  after  him,  "  Murraysfield."  He  had  a  short  settlement 
in  Philadelphia,  beginning  in  1807,  after  which  he  returned  to 
his  farm.  He  died,  after  a  brief  illness.  May  i6th,  1811.  Offi- 
cious religious  opponents  hung  around  his  death-bed,  trying  to 
shake  his  faith,  and  as  he  was  unable  to  talk,  they  whispered 
among  themselves  that  his  belief  in  Universalism  was  growing 
weaker.  Motioning  to  his  son  for  a  piece  of  chalk,  he  wrote, 
"stronger."  Resting  for  a  moment,  he  wrote  again,  ''■stronger.'''' 
Then  after  a  brief  interval,  he  wrote,  "  Stronger."  And  thus, 
with  growing  strength,  he  passed  on  to  the  fruition  of  his 
Christian  hopes. 

Mr.  Gleason.  Of  this  man  I  find  no  mention,  except  in  a 
letter  from  George  Richards  to  the  Gloucester  Society,  Aug. 
5,  1803,  in  which  he  says :  "  Brother  Gleason,  I  am  told,  has 
been  with  you ; "  and  the  Society's  answer:  "We  have,  as  you 
have  been  informed,  had  Mr.  Gleason  with  us,  and  are  much 


APPENDIX.  129 

pleased  with  his  performances ;  and  are  in  hopes,  as  he  is  so 
near  us,  we  shall  be  able  to  have  him  frequently  with  us.  And 
our  Society  are  so  well  satisfied  with  him  that  they  would  not 
seek  further  while  it  is  in  his  power  to  preach  among  us."  I 
find  by  the  sexton's  record  that  he  was  here  six  Sundays  in 
1803,  and  one  in  1804.  In  1846,  a  Benjamin  Gleason,  of  Con- 
cord, Mass.,  furnished  Rev.  Thomas  Whittemore  with  a  large 
collection  of  letters  addressed  to  himself  by  Rev.  George  Rich- 
ards, with  whom  he  was  intimate  during  Mr.  Richards'  resi- 
dence in  Boston,  and  for  many  years  after.  Possibly  this  man 
may  have  been  a  lay-preacher  for  a  brief  period. 


APPENDIX  E. 


THE  RELLY  HYMN  BOOK. 

The  title  of  this  book  is :  "  Christian  Hymns,  Poems,  and 
Spiritual  Songs,  Sacred  to  the  Praise  of  God  our  Saviour.  By 
James  and  John  Relly."  It  was  originally  published  in  London 
in  1770.  Mr.  Murray  republished  it  at  Burlington,  N.  J.,  in 
1776;  and  another  edition  was  pubHshed  by  Rev.  Noah  Parker, 
at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  in  1782.  In  Mr.  Murray's  edition  there 
is  a  list  of  the  subscribers,  amounting  in  all  to  223  persons,  who 
took  468  copies.  Providence,  R.  I.,  had  the  largest  number  of 
subscribers,  being  47,  but  Gloucester,  with  38  subscribers,  took 
the  largest  number  of  copies,  93. 

The  names  of  the  Gloucester  subscribers,  with  the  number 
taken  by  each,  were  : 


130 


UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 


Winthrop  Allen i 

Isaac  Bennett 2 

Isaac    Ball i 

Solomon  Babson 3 

James  Babson 2 

James   Broom 2 

William   Card i 

Capt.  Peter  Dolliver  . .   2 

William  Dolliver 3 

John  Stevens  Ellery  ...   2 

Isaac  Ellwell.  Jr i 

Nathaniel   Foster i 

Daniel  Giddings i 

Joseph   Herrick 2 

Philemon  Haskell 2 

Barnett  Harkin i 

Jourdan  James 2 

Isaac  Lane 2 

Theophilus  Lane 2 


Joseph  Lufkin i 

Zebulon    Lufkin 2 

Aaron  Lufkin 2 

James  Millen i 

Ebenezer  Parsons 3 

David  Pearce 6 

David  Plumer 5 

William  Sargent i 

Miss  Nancy  Sanders.  .  2 

John    Stevens 3 

Winthrop    Sargent....  6 

Samuel  Sayward 2 

Daniel   Sargent 6 

John    Somes 2 

Abraham  Sawyer 2 

Bradbury    Sanders...  6 

Epes  Sargent 6 

Winthrop    Sargent,  Jr.  3 

Jonathan  Trask i 


APPENDIX  F. 


SUIT  AGAINST  THE  FIRST  PARISH. 

After  Mr.  Murray's  consent  to  have  the  suit  brought  in  his 
own  name  had  been  obtained,  the  following  agreement  in  regard 
to  the  expenses,  was  put  into  his  hands: 

"  For  the  more  effectual  carrying  on  a  certain  process  at  Law 
between  John  Murray,  Clerk,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  First 
Parish  of  Glocester,  or  whatever  other  form  in  Law  may  be 
assumed  for  procuring  and  establishing  our  Religious  Liberties, 
Know  all  men  that  we,  Winthrop  Sargent,  David  Pearce,  Joseph 
Foster,  David  Plumer,  John  Somes,  Joshua  Plumer,  and  Epes 
Sargent,  all  of  Glocester,  County  of  Essex  and  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts whose  names  and  seals  are  hereunto  subscribed  and 


APPENDIX.  131 

affixed,  Do  associate,  mutually  pledge,  covenant,  agree  and  bind 
ourselves  jointly  the  one  to  the  other,  as  well  for  ourselves  as 
our  Heirs,  Executors  and  Administrators,  to  advance  and  pay 
such  sum  or  sums  as  shall  be  necessary  and  adequate  to  the 
well  conducting  of  said  Process,  the  whole  of  which  costs  of 
suit  and  other  expenses  when  terminated  to  be  respectively  by 
us  borne  in  such  proportions  as  we  are  taxed  in  the  different 
rate  lists  delivered  to  the  Collectors  by  the  Assessors  of  the  first 
Parish  of  Glocester,  for  1781,  1782,  1783. 

"  And  it  is  further  agreed,  that  David  Plumer  and  Joseph 
Foster  above  named  be  a  committee  to  transact  and  conduct 
the  causes  before  mentioned,  to  receive  all  monies ;  They  or 
any  one  of  them  giving  receipts  for  such  sums  as  shall  be  paid 
them,  and  to  be  accountable  to  this  association  for  the  expendi- 
ture of  the  same. 

"And  it  is  further  agreed  as  the  interest  and  meaning  of  this 
association,  to  comprehend  all  or  any  expenses  that  have  arisen 
in  conducting  the  cause  aforesaid  heretofore  as  well  as  what 
may  arise  at  this  present  or  in  future. 

"  It  is  further  agreed  that  the  said  David  Plumer  and  Joseph 
Foster,  committee,  shall  have  power  of  assembling  this  associ- 
ation at  such  times  and  place  as  shall  be  most  expedient. 

"  And  it  is  further  Covenanted  and  agreed  that  this  associa- 
tion will  aid,  strengthen,  counsell,  and  countenance  each  other 
in  the  prosecution  and  vindication  of  their  rights  against  a 
species  of  usurpation  and  tyranny  which  tho'  sanctified  by  the 
greatest  number,  has  for  its  object,  not  the  good  order  of  civil 
society,  but  the  subversion  of  humanity  and  religious  freedom. 
"  In  witness  of  the  foregoing  we  the  associating  and  contract- 
ing parties  have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names  and  affixed  our 
seals  in  Glocester  this  third  day  of  February,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty  four. 

WiNTHROP  Sargent, 

John  Stevens  Ellery 

in  behalf  of  Cap".  David  Pearce, 

Joseph  Foster, 

David  Plumer, 

John  Somes, 

Joshua  Plumer, 

Epes  Sargent." 


132  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Mr.  Babson,  in  his  History  of  Gloucester,  has  preserved  the 
following  anecdotes  of  the  trial  of  this  suit :  "  Mr.  Giddings,  a 
Quaker,  was  on  the  stand  to  testify  that  Mr.  Murray's  support- 
ers had  a  house  of  worship.  It  had  been  objected  against  them 
that  they  had  a  secret,  which,  in  the  state  of  public  affairs  at 
that  time,  might  be  dangerous  to  the  liberties  of  the  people. 
Mr.  Giddings,  being  questioned  on  this  point  and  pressed  rather 
closely,  at  length  answered,  "  Yes,  they  have  a  secret;  and  it  is 
this  (quoting  Ps.  xxv :  14,) :  '  The  secret  of  the  Lord  is  with 
them  that  fear  him,  and  he  will  show  them  his  covenant.'  They 
have  no  other  secret  to  my  knowledge." 

After  the  case  had  been  submitted  to  the  Jury,  they  were  out 
several  hours,  and  then  returned  to  Court,  saying  they  could  not 
agree.  The  Judge  then  addressed  them,  and  they  retired  once 
more.  The  foreman  made  an  earnest  appeal  for  Mr.  Murray, 
urging  that  his  supporters  had  as  good  a  right  to  worship  God 
according  to  the  dictates  of  conscience  as  others  had,  and  that 
he  was  prepared  to  render  a  verdict  accordingly.  He  then  com- 
posed himself  to  sleep,  with  the  remark,  that  they  might  arouse 
him  as  soon  as  they  could  agree.  During  the  night  they  came 
to  an  agreement ;  and  in  the  morning  went  into  Court  with  their 
vQxdicty— History  of  Gloucester,  p.  435. 


APPENDIX.  133 


APPENDIX  G, 


AN  APPEAL  TO  THE  IMPARTIAL  PUBLIC  BY  THE 
SOCIETY      OF      CHRISTIAN      INDEPENDENTS, 
CONGREGATING  IN   GLOCESTER. 
Friends  and  Countrymen, 

In  our  appeal  to  you,  we  feel  a  confidence,  which  in  an  ad- 
dress to  the  rulers  of  a  tyrannical  government,  we  could  never 
possess. 

While  the  people  have  the  power  of  forming  their  own  gov- 
ernment, of  enacting  their  own  laws ;  and  while  they  hold  in 
their  own  hands  the  sovereignty  of  their  Commonwealth,  justly 
deeming  their  highest  officers  their  servants,  and  are  attentive 
to  every  measure,  which  may  in  its  consequences,  affect  their 
liberty,  they  cannot  fail  to  be  free  and  happy. 

We  should  be  far  from  giving  our  countrymen  the  trouble  of 
attending  to  an  appeal  from  a  society,  so  small  and  inconsid- 
erable as  ours,  had  we  not  been  drawn  before  a  civil  tribunal, 
in  defence  of  what  we  suppose  to  be  our  just,  invaluable  and 
constitutional  rights.  A  question  has  been  agitated  respecting 
us,  the  decision  of  which,  ultimately  regards  every  citizen  of  the 
Commonwealth,  and  instantly  affects  the  several  rehgious  or- 
ders of  Episcopalians,  Baptists,  Presbyterians,  Sandemanians, 
Quakers,  and  every  other  denomination  of  Christians,  who  in 
this  State  have  been  called  Sectaries. 

Had  we  ever  done  anything  in  opposition  to  the  freedom  or 
independence  of  our  Country,  nay,  had  we  ever  shewn  a  back- 
wardness in  the  late  war,  to  assist  in  the  preservation  of  those 
privileges,  for  which  we  now  are  called  to  contend  in  courts  of 
justice,  we  should  feel  a  diffidence  in  laying  our  cause  before  the 
impartial  pubhc  ;  but  feeling  ourselves  deservedly  vested  with 
the  privileges  and  immunities  of  free  citizens  of  this  Common- 
wealth, and  entitled  to  those  liberties  with  which  Heaven  has 
made  us  free,  and  which  we  believe  to  be  secured  to  us,  by  a 


134  UNIVEKSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

constitution  of  government  happily  established  by  the  people, 
and  which  we  never  mean  to  part  with,  while  we  can  defend  or 
retain  them,  we  proceed  to  lay  our  cause  before  you. 

When  Mr.  John  Murray,  our  present  teacher  in  religious  mat- 
ters, had  been  invited  to  preach  in  the  Meeting-House  of  the 
first  Parish  in  Glocester,  we  heard  him  with  an  increasing 
pleasure,  and  a  growing  satisfaction.  On  the  settlement  of  Mr. 
Forbes,  the  present  minister  there,  we  being  obliged  to  with- 
hold our  assent  to  the  doctrines  he  taught,  disagreed  to  his  set- 
tlement. In  the  year  1779,  we  associated  for  the  purpose  of 
public  worship,  by  a  covenant,  a  copy  whereof  we  have  caused 
to  be  herewith  submitted  to  the  public  eye. 

Though  we  are  united  in  a  mode  of  worship,  and  a  form  of 
discipline,  yet  in  our  association,  we  have  carefully  avoided  the 
establishment  of  it,  because  we  are  fully  convinced  that  our 
blessed  Redeemer  left  no  particular  form  to  his  followers,  but 
submitted,  all  to  their  own  wisdom  and  prudence.  We  conceive 
that  a  voluntary  agreement,  in  religious  matters,  ought  to  be 
departed  from,  the  moment  the  individual  who  is  party  to  it, 
conceives  that  he  has  done  wrong ;  and  where  those  religious 
forms  have  been  established  by  laws,  we  find  by  the  best  his- 
tory of  Ecclesiastical  matters,  that  they  have  only  tended  to 
fetter  the  human  understanding,  and  have  been  the  unhappy 
means  of  substituting  the  form  for  the  substance  of  religion. 

We  did  not  in  our  agreement,  associate  for  the  belief  of  any 
particular  tenets,  or  peculiar  doctrines,  because  we  conceived 
that  all  conviction  must  rise  from  evidence  rationally  applied 
to  the  understanding  ;  and  we  could  not  suppose  that  the  same 
evidence  would  strike  every  mind  in  the  society  with  the  same 
force.  We  therefore  concluded  that  confessions  of  faith  with 
us,  might  do  what  we  believe  they  have  done  in  other  societies, 
where  those  of  human  invention  have  been  introduced,  oblige 
men,  either  to  submit  their  faith  to  the  controul  of  others,  and 
believe  without  examining,  or  to  profess  to  believe  that  which 
they  have  never  fully  considered  or  understood.  With  that 
humility  which  we  find  inculcated  in  every  part  of  the  Gospel, 
we  humbly  hoped,  that  it  would  be  sufficient  for  us  to  believe 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  to  adopt  the  system  of  morals  therein 
contained,  as  the  rtde  of  our  Conduct^  and  the  vian  of  our 
Counsel.     We  readily  conceived,  that  when   our   mode  of  wor- 


APPENr3IX. 


135 


ship,  or  the  doctrines  taught  us  by  our  teaching  Brother,  should 
become  disagreeable  to  any  one  of  our  brethren,  he  would  dis- 
sent from  us  and  join  himself  to  some  other  society. 

Upon  examining  the  matter  for  ourselves,  we  are  fully  con- 
vinced, that  by  establishing  articles  of  faith,  we  should  only 
injure  the  cause  of  religion,  and  possibly  might  lay  a  foundation 
for  persecution  in  a  future  day.  Very  soon  after  the  glorious 
doctrine  of  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ,  was  proclaimed  to  a  sinful 
world,  contentions,  annimosities,  hatred,  and  envy,  were  intro- 
duced by  uncharitable  and  incanded  men,  who,  proudly  feeling 
their  own  imaginary  infallibility,  could  not  bear  that  any  one 
should  dissent  from  their  opinion.  So  bigotted  are  men  gener- 
ally to  their  own  religious  opinions,  that  they  have  rarely  failed 
to  procure,  where  it  could  be  done,  the  civil  authority,  to  compel 
others  to  profess  a  belief  of  their  tenets. 

Upon  the  conversion  of  Constantine,  the  first  Roman  Em- 
peror who  embraced  Christianity,  the  civil  arm  was  extended  to 
establish  the  faith  which  he  supposed  all  must  hold,  because  he 
believed.  One  of  his  predecessors,  though  an  heathen,  had  by 
the  edict  of  Milan  established  a  universal  toleration  to  Chris- 
tians, and  to  every  denomination  of  religionists  ;  but  this  Chris- 
tian Emperor  at  once  violated  it.  And  to  use  the  language  of 
Mr.  Gibbons,  in  his  history  of  that  Prince,  "  The  grateful  ap- 
plause of  the  Clergy  has  consecrated  the  memory  of  a  Prince 
who  indulged  their  passions,  and  promoted  their  interest,  Con- 
stantine gave  them  security,  wealth,  honours  and  revenge :  and 
the  support  of  the  Orthodox  faith  was  considered  as  the  most 
sacred  and  important  duty  of  the  Civil  Magistrate.  The  edict 
of  Milan,  the  great  charter  of  toleration,  had  confirmed  to  each 
individual  of  the  Roman  world,  the  privilege  of  choosing  and 
professing  their  own  religion.  But  this  inestimable  priviledge 
was  soon  violated.  With  the  knowledge  of  truth,  the  Emperor 
imbibed  the  maxims  of  persecution ;  and  the  sects  which  dis- 
sented from  the  Catholic  church,  were  afflicted  and  oppressed 
by  the  triumph  of  Christianity.  Constantine  easily  believed 
that  the  Hereticks,  who  presumed  to  dispute  his  opinions,  or  to 
oppose  his  commands,  were  guilty  of  the  most  absurd  and  crim- 
inal obstinacy ;  and  that  a  seasonable  application  of  moderate 
severities  might  save  those  unhappy  men  from  danger  of  ever- 
lasting  condemnation.     Not  a  moment  was  lost    in   excluding 


136  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

ministers  and  teachers  of  the  separated  congregations  from  any 
share  of  the  rewards  and  immunities  which  the  Emperor  had  so 
liberally  bestowed  on  the  Orthodox  clergy.  But  as  the  Secta- 
ries might  still  exist  under  the  cloud  of  royal  disgrace,  the  con- 
quest of  the  East  was  immediately  followed  by  an  edict  which 
announced  their  total  destruction.  After  a  preamble  filled  with 
passion  and  reproach,  Constantine  absolutely  prohibits  the 
assembhes  of  the  Heretics,  and  confiscates  their  public  prop- 
erty to  the  use  either  of  the  revenue,  or  of  the  Catholic  church." 

The  Jewish  Christians  of  Alexandria,  appHed  the  ideas  taught 
in  the  school  of  Plato,  respecting  the  Logos,  to  our  blessed  Re- 
deemer ;  whereupon  the  Arian  Christians  exerted  themselves 
against  what  they  called  a  dangerous  error,  and  accused  their 
opponents  with  adopting  the  polytheism  of  the  Pagans.  Hence 
upon  a  mystery  above  the  comprehension  of  the  human  under- 
standing, arose  a  controversy  which  time  itself  can  never  settle. 
Constantius,  a  Roman  Emperor,  had  by  a  decree  ordained, 
that  "those  who  refused  to  communicate  with  the  Arian  Bish- 
ops, and  particularly  with  Macedonius,  should  be  deprived  of 
the  immunities  of  Ecclesiastics,  and  the  rights  of  Christians ; 
they  were  compelled  to  relinquish  the  possessions  of  Churches ; 
and  were  strictly  prohibited  from  holding  their  assemblies 
within  the  walls  of  the  city.  The  execution  of  this  unjust  law, 
in  the  provinces  of  Thrace,  and  Asia  Minor,  was  committed 
to  the  zeal  of  Macedonius.  The  civil  and  military  power  were 
directed  to  obey  his  commands,  and  the  cruelties  exercised  by 
this  Semi-Arian  tyrant,  in  the  support  of  the  Hojnoioiisio7i, 
exceeded  the  commission,  and  disgraced  the  reign  of  Constan- 
tius. The  sacraments  of  the  church  were  administered  to  the 
reluctant  victims,  who  denied  the  vocation,  and  abhorred  the 
principles  of  Macedonius.  The  rights  of  baptism  were  con- 
ferred on  women  and  children,  who,  for  that  purpose,  had  been 
torn  from  the  arms  of  their  friends  and  parents ;  the  mouths  of 
the  Communicants  were  held  open  by  a  wooden  engine,  while 
the  consecrated  bread  was  forced  down  their  throats;  the 
breasts  of  tender  Virgins  were  either  burnt  with  red-hot  ^g^ 
shells,  or  inhumanly  compressed  between  sharp  and  heavy 
boards." 

Theodosius,  one  of  the  successors  of  Constantius,  declared 
himself  on  the  side  of  the  Athannians ;  he  was  baptized,  and 


FORBES   CO. 


REV.    GEORGE    W.    SKINNER. 
Eighth   Pastor,  1862-1865. 


APPENDIX.  137 

as  he  ascended  from  the  water,  he  promulgated  his  decree: 
"  It  is  our  pleasure,  that  all  nations  which  are  governed  by  our 
clemency  and  moderation  should  steadfastly  adhere  to  the  reli- 
gion which  was  taught  by  Saint  Peter  to  the  Romans,  which 
faithful  tradition  has  preserved;  and  which  is  now  professed 
by  the  pontiff  Damasus,  and  by  Peter,  Bishop  of  Alexandria, 
a  man  of  apostolic  holiness ;  according  to  the  discipline  of  the 
apostles,  and  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel,  let  us  believe  the  sole 
deity  of  the  father,  the  son,  and  the  holy  ghost ;  under  an  equal 
majesty,  and  a  pious  trinity.  We  atithorize  the  followers  of 
this  doctrine  to  assume  the  title  of  Catholic  christians;  and  as 
we  judge  that  all  others  are  extravagant  madmen,  we  brand 
them  with  the  infamous  name  of  Heretics;  and  declare,  that 
their  Conventicles  shall  no  longer  usurp  the  respectable  appel- 
lation of  churches;  besides  the  condemnation  of  divine  justice, 
they  must  expect  to  suffer  the  severe  penalties  which  our 
authority,  guided  by  heavenly  wisdo?n,  shall  think  proper  to 
inflict  upon  them."  It  can  be  no  wonder  that  the  council  of 
Nice,  by  a  majority  of  votes,  settled  the  question  in  favor  of 
the  Emperor's  decree.  From  this  time,  blood  and  slaughter, 
persecutions  and  murders,  stained  every  decree  of  the  cabinet, 
and  served-  still  to  increase  the  hatred,  and  widen  the  senti- 
ments of  the  parties;  until  a  remedy  more  dreadful  than  the 
disease  itself  took  place.  In  consequence  of  the  decree  of 
Theodosius,  the  Roman  church  assumed  the  appellations  of 
Holy  and  Catholic,  and  arrogating  to  herself  the  power  of 
infallibility,  being  also  a  national  church,  and  having  procured 
within  her  controul,  the  whole  vengance  of  civil  government, 
she  wrapt  the  whole  world  in  a  cloud  of  impenetrable  darkness, 
debilitated  the  mind  of  man,  by  closing  the  door  of  free  enquiry, 
and  gave  birth  to  eight  hundred  years  of  ignorance,  and  bar- 
barism, unequalled  by  any  preceding  time;  hence  arose  an 
awful  chasm  in  the  history  of  the  world,  and  men  ceased  to 
think  because  thinking  was  a  crime. 

In  the  fifteenth  century  the  sons  of  inquiry  began  to  think 
for  themselves ;  they  thought,  they  examined  and  decided  for 
themselves  upon  these  matters  which  rested  only  between  their 
God  and  their  own  consciences;  but  this  could  not  fail  to 
awaken  that  horrid  monster,  persecution,  for  the  church  aided 
by  the  civil  magistrate  held  the  standard  of  orthodoxy,  and  the 


138  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

only  measure  of  faith.  Then  commenced  that  horrid  scene  of 
bloodshed  and  devastation  with  which  Europe  was  afflicted 
until  the  year  1688. 

It  would  have  been  very  happy  for  the  British  nation,  of 
which  we  were  then  a  part,  if  they  had  excluded  from  their 
laws  all  establishment  of  forms  of  worship ;  and  had  been  as 
tolerant  with  regard  to  articles  of  faith,  as  they  were  respecting 
Church-government;  but  the  magistrate  still  considering  him- 
self the  guardian  of  the  church,  and  the  defender  of  the  faith, 
not  only  established  a  national  church,  but  by  act  of  parlia- 
ment settled  articles  of  faith,  and  made  it  a  crime  not  to  be- 
lieve the  national  creed.  Amongst  other  things  alike  excep- 
tionable, it  was  enacted  at  that  time,  that  "  If  any  person  edu- 
cated in  the  christian  religion  should,  by  writing,  printing, 
teaching,  or  advised  speaking,  deny  any  one  of  the  perso?is  in 
the  holy  trinity  to  be  God,  or  should  maintain  that  there  are 
more  Gods  than  one,  he  should  for  the  first  offence  be  rendered 
incapable  of  holding  any  office,  and  for  the  second,  be  rendered 
incapable  of  bringing  any  action,  or  buying  any  lands." 

Though  the  first  settlers  of  this  State  fled  from  persecution, 
yet  the  light  they  had  received  was  by  no  means  sufficient  to 
prevent  their  embracing  those  principles,  which  casts  a  shade 
over  some  of  the  best  characters  known  in  that  age,  and  gives 
their  history  a  complexion  of  intolerance  which  will  ever  be 
lamented  by  their  more  enhghtened  posterity.  But  when  the 
Charter  of  WiUiam  and  Mary  had  tolerated  all  sorts  of  Chris- 
tians except  Papists,  the  Baptists  and  Quakers  had  security 
from  persecution. 

The  articles  of  faith  commonly  called  the  Platform,  and  made 
in  the  year  1646,  has  ever  shackled  the  freedom  of  the  people  in 
New  England ;  but  blessed  be  God,  the  liberty  now  happily  estab- 
Hshed  by  our  Constitution  has  given  a  fatal  stab  to  all  religious 
oppression  in  this  state. 

The  evil  which  we  find  to  have  accrued  from  the  establish- 
ment of  creeds  of  human  invention,  we  hope  will  make  us  suffi- 
ciently cautious,  and  prevent  our  forming  any  other  mode  of 
expression  for  articles  of  faith  than  the  gospel,  in  its  own  lan- 
guage, and  in  its  own  form ;  for  we  consider  them  as  mere  de- 
ductions from  facts  which  do  appear  to  some,  but  may  not  ap- 
pear to  others  upon  the  evidence  offered  in  their  support ;  and 


APPENDIX.  139 

while  we  are  assured  that  the  same  evidence  which  fully  con- 
vinces one  mind,  may  leave  another  in  doubt  and  uncertainty ; 
and  are  obliged  to  acknowledge  from  every  day's  experience, 
that  those  deductions  and  conclusions  which  appear  in  the 
highest  propriety  to  one,  may  strike  the  mind  of  another  as  a 
gross  absurdity,  we  are  humbly  contented  to  take  the  Gospel 
as  the  rule  of  our  lives,  and  to  profess  to  believe  whatever  is 
therein  taught,  as  a  divine  revelation,  looking  for  deliverance 
from  sin,  and  punishment,  in  the  manner  therein  graciously 
provided. 

We  find  that  the  Sects  of  Christians  in  New  England  have 
ever  been  distinguished  from  each  other  by  their  form  of  church 
discipline,  and  their  mode  of  administering  of  the  ordinances ; 
the  doctrines,  or  articles  of  faith,  held  by  all  being  as  nearly 
similar  as  that  of  individuals  in  the  same  church  has  generally 
been.  We  distinguish  ourselves  from  the  church  under  the 
instruction  of  Mr.  Forbes,  by  our  not  using  baptism  as  an 
external  rite.  Though  this  may  appear  to  some  to  be  imcom- 
patible  with  the  rehgion  we  profess,  yet  it  being  a  matter  rest- 
ing in  opinion  only,  we  know  not  why  we  should  be  condemned, 
while  the  Quakers  meet  the  smiles  of  government,  and  while 
many  others  who  omit  the  ordinance  through  inattention,  or  a 
total  disregard  to  all  religion,  have  the  favours  of  the  state. 
We  differ  from  that  church  also  in  our  mode  of  discipline, 
being  Indepettdents,  holding  as  the  first  church  in  Boston,  and 
many  other  churches  in  the  state  originally  held,  that  "all 
ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  is  committed  by  Christ  to  each  organ- 
ical  church,  from  which  there  is  no  appeal;  visible  saintship 
being  the  matter,  and  express  covenanting  the  form."  * 

"Ordination  we  account  nothing  else  but  the  solemn  putting  a 
man  into  his  place  and  office  in  the  church,  whereunto  he  hath 
a  right  before  by  election,  the  essence  and  substance  of  the 
outward  calling  of  an  ordinary  officer  in  the  church,  doth  not 
consist  in  ordination,  but  in  his  voluntary  and  free  election  by 
the  church,  and  his  accepting  of  that  election;  whereupon  is 
founded  that  relation  between  pastor  and  flock,  between  such 
a  minister  and  such  a  people.  Ordination  doth  not  constitute 
an  officer,  nor  give  him  the  credentials  of  his  office ;  the  apos- 

*  Governor  Bellingham's  Will  made  in  1672. 


140  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

ties  were  elders  without  imposition  of  hands   by  men."     Plat- 
form, chap.  9. 

This  was  the  sense  of  the  country  at  that  time,  and  it  was  so 
prevalent,  that  although  the  Platform  was  obtained,  yet  it 
could  not  be  done  without  observing  these  sentiments.  But  as 
the  word  Ordain  signifies  no  more  than  to  appoint,  we  conceive 
that  the  election,  and  not  the  laying  on  of  hands,  makes  the 
Ordination  compleat.  See  sixth  and  thirteenth  chapters  of 
Acts. 

Notwithstanding  this,  we  have  been,  and  yet  are  taxed  to  the 
support  of  Mr.  Forbes,  and  our  property  is  taken  and  exposed 
at  auction  to  raise  money  for  the  support  of  a  form  of  worship 
in  which  we  can  never  join,  and  for  the  support  of  teaching  by 
which  we  can  have  no  instruction.  Were  we  not  thus  op- 
pressed, we  should  have  been  very  contented  to  have  enjoyed 
in  silence  that  liberty  which  we  feel  ourselves  entitled  to  as 
Free  Citizens  of  this  Commonwealth,  always  resolving  to  yield 
that  obedience  to  government  which  is  due  from  good  subjects 
to  a  state  that  protects  them  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  dearest 
rights. 

We  were  advised  that  our  situation  was  such  as  precluded 
all  other  relief  from  the  oppression  we  complain  of,  otherwise 
than  by  an  action  brought  in  the  name  of  our  teacher  to  recover 
the  money  taken  from  us  for  the  support  of  a  public  teacher  of 
religion,  piety  and  morality.  He  was  very  unwilling  to  have  an 
action  brought  in  his  name;  but  upon  our  representing  the 
cruelty  of  those  who  took  this  advantage  of  us,  and  the  hard- 
ship of  his  not  consenting  to  the  only  relief  we  could  have,  he 
gave  his  consent. 

The  action  which  we  instituted  was  tried  at  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Court,  held  at  Ipswich  in  June,  1785,  when  a  verdict 
was  given  in  our  favour.*  Had  we  no  other  motive  than  the 
saving  of  our  money,  we  should  have  been  more  in  our  own 
interest  by  paying  quietly  to  the  support  of  Mr.  Forbes,  than 
we  have  been  in  building  a  house  for  public  worship,  support- 
ing a  teacher  amongst  ourselves,  and  by  engaging  in  a  trouble- 
some and  expensive  lawsuit.  But  holding  the  rights  of  con- 
science as  superior  to  every  other  consideration,  we  have  per- 

*  The  Counsel  for  the  Plantifs,  Mr.  Sullivan,  Mr.  Tudor;  for  the  Defend'ts, 
Mr.  Bradbury,  Mr.  Parsons. 


APPENDIX.  141 

severed,  and  still  intend  to  persevere,  not  doubting  that  our 
countrymen  will  do  us  the  justice  of  securing  to  us  that  freedom 
wherein  we  have  reason  to  rejoice  under  the  present  government. 

As  the  principles  agitated  in  the  trial -of  the  cause  above 
mentioned,  and  the  objections  made  against  us,  apply  them- 
selves equally  to  Episcopalians,  Baptists,  Quakers,  Sandema- 
nians,  and  Independents,  and  to  every  denomination  of  Chris- 
tians whose  society  is  not  described  and  known  by  town  or 
parish  lines,  or  by  a  particular  act  of  incorporation,  we  think 
it  our  duty  to  give  the  public  our  remarks  and  observation  upon 
them.  In  doing  this,  though  we  should  show  a  dissent  from 
the  opinion  of  some  gentlemen  of  great  learning  and  ability, 
and  perhaps  from  some  gentlemen  of  high  civil  rank  in  the 
state ;  and  though  we  shall  speak  with  the  confidence  becoming 
men  who  realize  their  constitutional  freedom ;  yet  we  shall  do 
it  with  all  that  deference  and  respect  which  we  owe  to  the  char- 
acters of  great  and  good  men  who  may  have  been  opposed  to 
our  opinion.  Whether  they  or  we  are  right,  we  submit  to  the 
public. 

The  third  article  in  the  declaration  of  rights,  provides,  that 
"  all  monies  paid  by  the  subject  to  the  support  of  public  wor- 
ship, and  of  the  public  teachers  aforesaid,  shall,  if  he  require  it, 
be  uniformly  applied  to  the  support  of  the  public  teacher  or 
teachers  of  his  own  religious  sect  or  denomination,  provided 
there  be  any  on  whose  instructions  he  attends;  otherwise  it 
may  be  paid  towards  the  support  of  the  teacher  or  teachers  of 
the  parish  in  which  the  money  is  raised."  For  the  reasons 
before  mentioned,  we  consider  ourselves  a  Sect  different  from 
those  who  attend  upon  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Forbes;  and  we 
therefore  are  of  opinion  that  the  money  raised  upon  us  ought 
to  be  applied  to  the  support  of  the  teacher  of  our  own  religious 
sect,  there  being  one  on  whose  instructions  we  attend.  But  it 
was  objected  that  the  teacher  who  is  entitled  to  receive  the 
money  paid  by  his  hearers,  must  be  a  teacher  of  piety,  religion 
and  morality ;  this  we  concede,  but  we  are  not  convinced  that 
the  question,  whether  he  is  a  teacher  of  piety,  religion  and  mo- 
rality, can  be  determined  from  a  revision  of  the  motives  he 
offers  as  to  the  rewards  and  the  punishments  which  are  to  be 
bestowed  or  inflicted  in  another  world.  We  believe  that  the 
question  must   be  decided   by  the   evidence  of   his  urging  the 


1^2  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

people  to  piety  and  morality,  as  the  foundation  of  the  greatest 
good  which  their  natures  are  capable  of,  and  as  a  compliance 
with  the  will  of  their  almighty  Creator  and  preserver,  without 
going  into  an  inquiry  of  his  opinion  respecting  the  quantity  of 
punishment  in  a  future  state. 

That  God  will  punish  men  for  sin  in  such  a  manner  as  will 
far  overbalance  the  pleasures  which  can  be  derived  from  vice 
in  this  world,  is  so  clearly  pointed  out  in  the  gospel  that  we 
are  compelled  to  believe  it;  but  whether  the  opinion  of  some 
learned  and  good  men,  who  imagine  that  the  wicked  will  be 
annihilated;  or  whether  that  of  the  learned  Doctor  Chauncy, 
Doctor  Priestly,  and  many  others,  who  believe  that  there  is  a 
temporary  hell  prepared  for  the  ungodly,  which  is  another  state 
of  probation,  or  any  other  opinion  respecting  that  subject  is 
best,  every  one  must  determine  for  himself.  Neither  statutes, 
penalties  or  rewards,  can  force  or  allure  a  man  to  consent  to 
the  truth  of  a  proposition,  without  sufficient  evidence  received 
by  a  mind  capable  of  examining  and  applying  of  it. 

The  idea  that  it  is  necessary  to  the  good  order  of  civil  gov- 
ernment, that  the  Teachers  of  Rehgion  should  thunder  out  the 
doctrine  of  everlasting  punishment  to  deter  men  from  atrocious 
crimes,  which  they  may  otherwise  commit  in  secret,  has  long 
been  hackneyed  in  the  hands  of  men  in  power;  but  without 
any  warrant  from  reason  or  revelation  for  doing  of  it ;  for  rea- 
son itself,  without  the  aid  of  revelation,  gave  no  intimation  of 
a  state  of  retribution  ;  it  was  the  Gospel  which  brought  life  and 
immortality  to  light.  God,  in  the  civil  constitution  which  he 
was  pleased  to  form  for  the  Jews,  strongly  prohibited  murder, 
perjury,  adultery,  and  many  other  crimes  which  men  might  then 
commit  in  secret ;  but  never,  in  any  one  instance,  gave  an  inti- 
mation that  the  Jews  should  be  punished  in  another  world  for 
their  crimes  in  this.  Had  a  threatning  of  that  nature  been 
necessary  to  the  support  of  civil  government,  we  might  with 
great  propriety  look  for  it  there.  It  was  not  till  the  Christian 
Church  was  illegally  weded  to  state  policy,  that  men  in  power 
dared  to  hurl  the  Thunders  of  the  Most  High  at  those  who 
offended  against  government;  and  even  then,  modesty  forbid 
it,  only  as  they  arrogantly  pretended  to  do  it  for  the  honor  of 
God  and  the  advantage  of  religion. 

But  should  the  point  be  maintained,  that  courts   and  juries 


APPENDIX.  143 

are  authorized  to  determine  whether  the  teacher  of  a  religious 
sect  is  a  teacher  of  morality,  from  his  opinion  either  of  the 
cause,  mode,  or  state  of  men's  happiness  or  misery  in  another 
world,  or  from  his  opinion  of  the  nature  or  proportion  of  the 
rewards  for  virtue,  or  the  punishment  for  vice  there,  no  sect  or 
denomination  could  be  safe;  it  being  a  matter  resting  in  opin- 
ion only,  without  any  earthly  tribunal  having  the  ability  or 
authority  to  settle  the  question.  Suppose  an  Episcopalian 
teacher  should  have  an  action  in  his  name  to  recover  the  money 
paid  by  his  hearers;  perhaps  he  might  be  one  who  had  sub- 
scribed and  sworn  to  the  thirty-nine  articles,  the  truth  of  which 
is  well  supported  by  act  of  parliament :  an  objection  might 
be  made  from  one  of  the  articles,  that  tells  us  God  from  all 
eternity  elected  a  certain  number  to  happiness,  and  predesti- 
nated all  the  rest  of  the  human  race  to  everlasting  misery;  and 
this  of  his  own  sovereign  will,  without  any  regard  to  the  merit 
of  the  one,  or  the  demerit  of  the  others.  A  jury  might  be  found 
who  would  decide  at  once  that  this  doctrine  is  subversive  of  all 
morality  and  good  order;  for  if  the  state  of  every  man  is  unal- 
terably fixed  from  all  eternity,  and  nothing  done  by  him  can 
in  any  wise  change  the  divine  decree,  he  had  better  eat,  drink, 
and  be  merry,  and  indulge  himself  in  all  that  can  give  him  sen- 
sual pleasure.  The  argument  is  equally  strong  against  all  Cal- 
vinists,  and  in  appearance  stronger  against  Hopkintonians, 
Edwardians,  and  all  other  Fatalists.  But  should  a  sober  Ar- 
minian  be  in  trial,  and  it  appeared  that  he  taught  his  people 
that  it  was  within  their  own  power  to  procure  future  happiness 
by  their  virtue  and  goodness,  and  that  God  would  punish  them 
in  another  world  for  those  crimes  which  they  were  under  no 
necessity  to  commit  in  this;  that  this  is  a  state  of  probation 
wherein  it  is  in  their  power  to  lay  the  foundation  of  everlasting 
happiness;  a  jury  might  not  be  able  to  distinguish  between  the 
prescience  and  the  fore-ordination  of  God;  and  it  might  be 
called  impiety  to  alledge  that  the  infinitely  wise  Being  did  not 
from  all  eternity  know  the  ultimate  fate  and  final  end  of  all  his 
creatures ;  it  would  at  least  be  called  derogatory  to  the  honor 
of  the  Most  High,  to  suppose  anything  to  be  contingent  with 
him  ;  and  therefore  a  Teacher  of  such  principles  might,  in  the 
eye  of  some  persons,  be  viewed  as  a  Teacher  of  impiety  and 
immorality. 


144  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

We  neither  undertake  to  support  or  condemn  any  of  the 
tenets  we  have  alluded  to,  for  we  suppose  that  every  good  man, 
let  his  involuntary  errors  be  multiplied  as  they  may,  will  be  in 
the  favour  of  God.  But  we  reason  in  this  manner  to  shew  the 
impracticability  of  deciding  upon  the  moraHty  of  a  teacher 
from  his  opinion  of  those  matters ;  when  all  opinions  must  de- 
pend upon  men's  construction  of  the  most  holy  word  of  God, 
as  revealed  in  the  scriptures.  We  will  only  add  here,  that  if 
the  courts  of  law  in  this  State  are  to  go  into  an  inquiry  of  this 
kind,  the  conscience  of  the  judges  will  be  the  standard  of 
religious  sentiment,  and  the  only  inquiry  upon  matters  of  faith 
will  be,  What  was  the  opinion  of  the  court  in  the  last  trial? 
It  would  more  certainly  be  better  to  have  the  articles  of  faith 
settled  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  at  once. 

Another  objection  raised  against  us  in  the  above-mentioned 
trial  was  as  unexpected  as  it  was  alarming  to  us.     It  was  that 
no  teacher  of  religion,  piety  and  morality,  could  have  a  right  to 
recover  the   money  paid   by  his  sect  in  the  support  of  public 
teaching,  and  to  the  support  of  public  worship,  unless  the  per- 
son demanding  of  it  is  the  teacher  of  a  town,  parish,  precinct, 
or  a  society  legally  organized,  and  vested  with  civil  and  corpo- 
rate powers.     Or,  in  other  words,  that  the  people  of  no  sect  of 
Protestant  christians  can  have  the  money  paid  by  them  in  sup- 
port of  pubHc  teaching  of  piety,  religion  and  morality,  applied 
to  the  support  of  the  teacher  of  their  own  sect,  on  whose  teach- 
ings and  instructions   they  attend,  unless   their  teacher   is  the 
settled  minister  of  a  parish ;  or  unless  they  are  a  society  vested 
by  the  legislature  with  corporate  powers.     This  we  take  to  be 
a  fair  state  of  the  objection  as  made  in  the  trial  of  our  cause; 
and  we  feel  ourselves  obliged,  not  only  for  our  own,  but  for. 
the   security  of   every  denomination  of  christians   not  known 
and  described  by  parish  lines,  to   examine   the   question  with 
fairness  and  candour.     That  our  reasoning  may  be  subject  to 
a  fair  investigation,  we  cause  the  two  articles  whereon  we  rely 
to  be  printed  in  the  appendix.     Though  we  can  easily  conceive, 
that  through  the  malicious  misrepresentations  of  our  enemies, 
such  prejudices  are  raised  against  us  that  even  some  good  men 
may  be  ready  to  exchange  their  own  religious  liberty  for  our 
destruction ;  yet  when  we  consider  that  the  good  sense  of  this 
people  will  show  them  clearly,  that  a  wrong  judgment  now  given 


APPENDIX.  145 

against  us  may  end  in  the  persecution  of  those  who  now  feel 
the  greatest  securky,  we  have  reason  to  hope  we  shall  be  heard 
with  patience  and  candour. 

The  small  and  trifling  objection,  that  we  "  have  no  name  or 
appellation  of  Protestant  Christians,"  hardly  deserves  notice. 
Yet  thus  much  we  say,  that  we  call  ourselves  Independents  — 
an  appellation  which  was  very  honorable  in  the  country  until 
the  Civil  Government  had  begotten,  and  the  Church  had 
brought  forth  the  idea  of  synods  and  consociations  of  churches; 
thereby  making  an  unsavory  mixture  of  politics  and  religion, 
for  the  purpose,  as  they  affected  to  believe,  of  keeping  religion 
pure  and  undefiled ;  *  there  has  been  no  denomination  of  reli- 
gionists but  who  have  had  the  honor  of  receiving  their  appella- 
tion from  their  enemies ;  having  it  at  first  applied  by  way  of 
reproach,  but  becoming  honorable  as  their  sect  grew  numerous 
and  important ;  amongst  these  are  the  Gallileans,  Christians, 
Lutherans,  Calvinists,  Protestants,  Quakers,  Baptists,  and  Dis- 
senters. And  we  are  humbly  contented  that  our  enemies,  if 
they  do  not  like  the  name  of  Independents,  shall  call  us  what 
they  please.     But  we  proceed  to  consider  the  objection. 

If  the  objection  above  stated  has  a  foundation  which  can 
support  it  against  a  careful  examination,  then  all  that  security 
to  the  rights  of  conscience,  all  that  equahty  in  the  several  sects 
and  denominations  of  Christians,  and  that  strong  barrier 
against  oppression  in  religious  matters  which  the  people 
thought  they  had  established  by  their  constitution  of  civil  gov- 
ernment, has  upon  the  very  first  juridical  examination  been 
found  to  be  visionary  and  delusive ;  the  language  used  by  the 
compilers  of  the  Form  of  Government  is  not  accompanied  with 
those  ideas  which  have  been  associated  with  it  in  all  other 
cases ;  but  the  people  have  been  amused  by  the  chicane  of 
doubtful  expression,  and  instead  of  something  permanent  and 
substantial,  have  believed  a  dream  and  embraced  a  shadow. 
But  if  the  words  used  in  the  third  article  in  the  Declaration  of 
Rights  have  the  same  meaning  there  as  they  have  in  other 
places,  we  have  no  difficulty  arising  from  the  objection  under 
consideration. 


*  See  the  Platform,  where  the  magistrate  is  to  see  the  decrees  of  the  council  car- 
ried into  execution. 


146  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

The  construction  of  these  words  will  depend  much  upon  the 
meaning  of  the  word  Sect j  the  money  is  to  be  applied  to  the 
support  of  the  teacher  of  his  own  Sect.  Therefore  it  will  be 
necessary  to  have  a  precise  meaning  to  that  word. 

Secta,  from  the  verb  seco,  to  cut  off  or  assunder,  to  rend 
apart,  or  divide,  was  used  by  the  Romans  to  express  a  kind  of 
people  of  a  different  profession,  a  party  or  faction.  In  all  coun- 
tries where  there  is  a  church  established  by  law  as  the  national 
church,  those  who  dissent  from  it  are  called  Sectaries  j  as  all 
in  England  who  are  not  Episcopalians  are  called  Schismatics 
and  Sectaries.  In  this  State  there  has  been  no  church  estab- 
Hshed  since  the  charter  of  1692,  and  therefore  the  word  Sect 
must  have  a  meaning  here  in  some  way  different  from  what  it 
has  in  those  countries  where  churches  are  established  by  law. 
With  us  it  undoubtedly  includes  and  describes  those  persons 
who  dissent  from  legal  establishments  which  are  instituted  for 
religious  purposes. 

The  laws  of  the  State  provide  that  each  town  not  divided  into 
parishes,  and  each  precinct  and  parish,  shall  be  obliged  to 
settle  and  support  a  gospel  minister,  to  whose  settlement,  sup- 
port and  maintenance  all  the  persons  and  estates  within  the 
parish  shall  contribute  by  taxes  duly  and  legally  assessed  ;  and 
all  those  within  the  town  or  parish,  whether  they  are  Episco- 
paHans,  Baptists  or  Quakers,  or  whatever  else  they  may  be 
called,  who  dissent  from  the  minister  thus  legally  settled,  and 
the  mode  of  worship  agreed  upon  by  the  majority,  are  Sectaries. 
Nay,  even  congregationalists,  when  the  majority  of  the  parish 
chuses  a  Presbyterian  form  of  worship,  may  be  a  Sect.  That 
this  has  been  the  idea  of  a  Sect  in  this  State  from  the  time  of 
the  first  legal  establishment  of  local  religious  societies  by  parish 
and  precinct  lines,  we  submit  to  our  countrymen.  And  we  cannot 
but  beheve  that  it  was  used  in  this  sense  by  the  compilers  of 
the  Constitution,  and  conveyed  this  idea  to  the  people  when 
they  established  their  Form  of  Government.  It  could  not  be 
confined  in  its  meaning  to  the  Sects  only  which  existed  at  that 
time,  as  some  intolerant  and  bigoted  men  have  supposed,  but 
extended  to  all  which  might  arise  thereafter;  for  the  Conven- 
tion could  not  be  vain  enough  to  suppose  that  all  inquiry  upon 
religious  matters  were  at  an  end,  nor  ill-natured  enough  to  wish 
to  exclude  the  further  investigation  of  truth.     This   does   not. 


APPENDIX.  147 

however,  so  much  concern  us,  for  we  had  associated  before  the 
Constitution  was  formed. 

Taking  the  word  Sect  to  mean  as  we  have  above  explained 
it,  we  shall  take  it  with  us  in  that  meaning,  while  we  give  our 
construction  of  the  third  article  in  the  declaration  of  rights. 
And  we  find  it  necessary,  as  the  history  of  this  important  arti- 
cle is  fresh  in  the  minds  of  our  fellow-citizens,  to  go  a  little 
into  it;  indeed,  ages  yet  to  come  may,  and  undoubtedly  will, 
collect  the  same  history  from  the  arrangement  of  ideas  and 
the  mode  of  expression  used  in  the  article,  which  the  people 
are  now  able  to  give  from  their  memory. 

The  second  article  in  the  above-mentioned  declaration  pro- 
vides, that,  as  it  is  as  well  the  duty  as  the  right  of  all  men  in 
civil  society,  to  worship  the  supreme  Being,  no  subject  shall  be 
hurt,  molested,  or  restrained  in  his  liberty  or  estate,  for  wor- 
shipping God  in  the  manner  and  season  most  agreeable  to  the 
dictates  of  his  own  conscience,  or  for  his  religious  profession 
or  sentiments,  provided  he  doth  not  disturb  the  public  peace, 
or  obstruct  others  in  their  religious  worship.  The  ideas  in  this 
article  were  taken  from  Mr.  Locke's  letters  on  toleration, 
wherein  that  great  man  proves,  from  reason  and  scripture,  that 
religion  is  at  all  times  a  matter  between  each  individual  and 
his  God;  and  that  no  man  has  a  right  to  dictate  a  mode  of 
worship  to  another,  nor  can  derive  any  authority  to  obstruct 
another  in  his  way  of  worship.  That  each  man  may,  and  ought 
to  enjoy  his  own  mode,  but  may  not  sacrifice  the  life  of  another, 
because  this  is  an  injury  to  a  person  who  stands  on  a  perfect 
equality  with  himself.  He  cannot  offer  to  his  God  the  calf  of 
another,  because  it  would  be  robbing  him  of  his  property ;  but 
he  may  sacrifice  his  own  calf  or  lamb  in  his  own  way,  and  no 
one  has  authority  to  prohibit  it. 

It  was,  on  the  one  hand,  thought  necessary  to  make  provision 
for  the  support  of  public  worship,  and  of  the  public  teachers  of 
piety,  religion  and  morality,  for  the  sake  of  making  men  better 
citizens,  and  better  members  of  the  Commonwealth ;  while  on 
the  other,  it  was  strenuously  insisted  upon  that  provision  should 
be  made  for  liberty  of  conscience,  and  express  and  ample 
security  given  against  oppression  in  matters  of  religion.  In 
this  all  agreed,  for  the  Baptists,  Quakers,  &c.,  had  depended 
for  security  from  persecution  upon  a  charter  which  was  by  the 


148  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

New  Constitution  done  away,  and  upon  laws  to  secure  them 
from  oppression  which  might  be  repealed  by  the  legislature  at 
pleasure. 

This  article  was  a  mere  matter  of  negociation  between  par- 
ties ;  and  unless  some  permanent  measure  could  be  contrived 
which  could  secure  the  sectaries  against  being  compelled  to 
contribute  to  the  support  of  teachers  whom  they  could  never 
hear,  and  to  the  building  of  houses  for  public  worship  which 
they  could  never  visit,  there  was  but  little  hope  of  having  the 
new  form  of  government  established  ;  for  the  number  of  secta- 
ries in  the  state,  joined  in  the  opposition  with  those  who  would 
oppose  all  forms  of  government  predicated  upon  republican 
principles,  would  have  turned  a  large  majority  against  the  con- 
stitution. It  was  urged,  however,  that  there  was  not  one  soci- 
ety amongst  the  sectaries  which  had  corporate  powers,  or  were 
capable  of  making  or  compeUing  a  tax;  and  therefore,  to  pro- 
vide that  they  should  not  be  taxed  by  the  parish  where  they 
lived  would  be  bidding  a  premium  upon  becoming  sectaries, 
and  offering  a  reward  for  the  neglect  of  public  worship.  As 
the  measure  under  consideration  was  intended  only  for  civil 
purposes,  and  all  religious  ideas  respecting  the  state  of  the 
individual  in  another  world  were  disclaimed,  the  force  of  the 
reasoning  was  felt ;  and  it  was  agreed  that  "  all  monies  paid  by 
the  subject  to  the  support  of  public  worship,  and  of  the  public 
teachers  aforesaid,  should,  if  he  require  it,  be  uniformly  applied 
to  the  support  of  the  public  teacher,  or  teachers,  of  his  own 
religious  sect  or  denomination;  provided  there  be  any  on  whose 
instructions  he  attends;  otherwise  it  may  be  paid  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  teacher,  or  teachers,  of  the  parish,  or  precinct,  in 
which  said  monies  are  raised." 

By  this  provision,  all  sectaries  were  obliged  to  contribute  their 
proportion  to  the  support  of  public  worship,  as  an  institution 
designed  to  establish  the  interest,  and  procure  the  safety  of  the 
Commonwealth.  But  "every  christian  demeaning  himself 
peaceably  was  to  be  equally  under  the  protection  of  the  laws, 
and  no  subordination  of  any  one  Sect,  or  denomination,  to  an- 
other, was  ever  to  be  established  by  law."  Therefore  it  was 
but  just  that  the  money  ^^ paid  by  the  subject "  should  be  uni- 
formly applied  to  the  teacher  of  his  own  religious  sect  or  de- 
nomination, if  he  had  such  a  teacher  on  whose  instructions  he 


APPENDIX.  149 

attended ;  let  him  be  either  a  teacher  of  a  corporate  society, 
vested  by  the  legislature  with  civil  powers,  as  a  company  hold- 
ing a  common  estate,  and  then  in  a  legal  idea  a  denomination, 
or  of  a  number  of  persons  not  described  by  parish  lines,  nor 
holding  property  in  common  as  proprietors,  and  empowered  by 
law  to  manage  and  dispose  of  it,  but  made  up  of  a  collection 
from  parishes  and  precincts,  and  therefore  called  a  Sect. 

But  it  is  said  that  the  teacher  to  whose  support  the  money  is 
to  be  applied  must  be  a  teacher  of  a  society  vested  with  cor- 
porate powers,  because  that  "  all  monies  paid  by  the  subject  for 
the  support  of  the  teachers  aforesaid  is  to  be  applied,  &c." 
That  this  expression,  teachers  aforesaid^  refers  to  teachers  of 
parishes  and  societies  with  corporate  powers,  we  grant.  But 
still  it  does  not  support  the  objection.  The  article  under  con- 
sideration provides  that  the  legislature  shall  have  the  power  to 
authorize  and  require  the  several  towns,  parishes,  precincts, 
and  other  bodies  politick,  and  religious  societies,  to  make  pro- 
vision, at  their  own  expence,  for  the  support  of  public  worship ; 
and  we  concede  that  there  is  no  way  for  a  legislature  to  compel 
a  mere  sect  to  make  such  provision  ;  for  they  are  neither  capa- 
ble of  acting,  nor  can  they  be  discerned  by  the  legislative  eye ; 
and  yet  they  have  a  right  individually  to  protection  from  reli- 
gious oppression.  Here  we  grant  all  the  facts  which  our  oppo- 
nents have  asserted,  but  we  totally  deny  the  conclusions  which 
they  pretend  to  make ;  for  tho'  the  parish  has  a  right  to  tax  the 
sectary  towards  the  support  of  a  public  teacher,  and  thereby 
to  compel  him  to  contribute  of  his  substance  toward  a  measure 
intended  for  the  benefit  of  the  state;  yet  we  say  that  the  money 
is  to  be  applied  to  the  support  of  the  teacher  of  his  own  Sect, 
who  is  supposed  by  the  Constitution  to  teach  those  things 
which  tend  to  piety  and  morality  as  much  as  the  teacher  of  the 
parish  ;  otherwise  there  would  be  a  subordination  of  one  sect 
or  denomination  to  another.  The  word  Sect  can  never  mean  a 
body  with  legal  corporate  powers;  for  the  moment  a  society 
has  an  act  of  the  legislature  for  their  establishment  they  cease 
to  be  a  sect,  and  become  a  legal  body  as  much  as  a  town  or  a 
parish  is.  There  is  a  wide  distinction  between  an  establish 
ment  and  a  toleration.  The  dissenters  in  England,  and  the 
Hugonots  in  France,  are  tolerated;  that  is,  they  are  freed  from 
persecution,  but  not  capable  of  acting  as  a  legal  body.    But  the 


150  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

idea  of  toleration  at  all  times  arises  from  a  subordination  of  one 
sect  to  another;  unless  there  may  be  an  instance  where  the 
Civil  Government  makes  no  religious  establishment,  but  tol- 
erates all  religions ;  where  all  sorts  of  professions  of  the  Chris- 
tian Religion  are  on  a  perfect  equality,  as  they  are  by  our  Con- 
stitution :  the  idea  of  a  toleration  is  inadmissible.  But  if  the 
clause  in  the  article  was  intended  only  for  the  benefit  of  Cor- 
porate Bodies,  it  was  wholly  unnecessary ;  for  surely  the  law 
which  gives  them  corporate  powers,  gives  them  at  the  same 
moment  complete  exemption,  as  far  as  the  legislature  can  give 
it,  from  all  taxes  assessed  by  any  other  corporation.  We  con- 
ceive that  the  several  parishes  carved  out  of  a  town  were  never, 
by  any  language  used  in  the  country,  considered  as  sects,  be- 
cause they  were  bodies  established  by  law. 

Moreover,  as  in  matters  of  the  support  of  teachers,  the  legis- 
lature can  act  only  upon  a  consideration  of  the  society  which  is 
the  object  of  their  law,  holding  and  possessing  property  in  com- 
mon, or  a  common  estate,  as  is  not  the  case  with  us,  the  Bap- 
tists, and  others  who  build  their  places  of  publick  worship  by 
a  voluntary  contribution,  without  contract,  or  an  account  of 
the  expence.  Those  sects  cannot  be,  by  any  law,  put  upon  that 
footing,  which  they  suppose  the  Constitution  places  them  on. 

All  money  raised  for  any  purpose,  by  legal  assessment,  must 
indeed  be  raised  by  a  corporate  body ;  and  therefore  as  a  par- 
ish can  raise  no  money  by  tax  for  the  support  of  public  teach- 
ers, but  what  is  ostensibly  raised  for  the  support  of  a  parish 
teacher,  we  suppose  the  expression,  "  teacher  or  teachers  afore- 
said,^'' is  used  to  express,  the  teacher  or  teachers  of  a  parish  or 
body  politic.  But  when  we  come  to  the  appropriation  of  the 
money,  the  expression  is  varied,  and  it  is  not  to  the  "  teachers 
aforesaid,''  but  "  to  the  public  teacher  of  his  own  religious 
Sect''  Which  clearly  gives  the  priviledge  of  applying  the 
money  raised  of  the  subject  by  legal  authority,  to  the  support 
of  his  own  teacher,  if  he  has  one,  of  a  Sect  separated  from  the 
parish,  on  account  of  a  difference  in  sentiment  with  respect  to 
church  discipline  and  the  administration  of  religious  rites. 

We  do  not  mean  to  suggest  that  every  man  who  has  a  dis- 
like to  the  minister  of  his  parish,  but  still  adheres  to  the  same 
form  of  worship  and  mode  of  church  discipline,  has  a  right  to 
have  his  money  paid  to  one  of  the  same  denomination  because 


APPENDIX.  151 

he  goes  out  of  the  parish  to  hear  him  ;  for  in  such  case  there 
is  no  difference  of  sects,  and  the  constitution  has  made  no  pro- 
vision about  it. 

If  the  construction  we  contend  for  is  not  the  true  one,  then 
the  Episcopalians,  Baptists,  Quakers,  nor  any  other  Sectary 
has  any  possible  security  against  oppression  in  religious  mat- 
ters from  the  Constitution.  For  (as  we  believe)  there  is  not 
one  of  them  vested  with  corporate  powers ;  the  laws  now  in 
existence  for  their  security  can  be  repealed  whenever  the  legis- 
lature shall  see  fit  to  do  it,  and  they  can  all  be  placed  in  a 
day  on  the  same  ground  which  we  now  stand  upon. 

We  have  been  told  that  we  ought  to  apply  to  the  legislature 
for  an  act  of  Incorporation,  as  the  only  remedy  against  the 
oppression  we  complain  of;  but  could  we  be  assured  that  our 
petition  would  be  most  readily  granted,  yet  we  should  feel  our- 
selves highly  criminal  in  making  the  application.*  Providence 
has  so  ordered  it  that  we  should,  in  the  first  instance,  be  called 
upon  to  contend  for  those  religious  liberties  preserved  by  our 
excellent  Constitution.  The  inconsiderableness  of  our  party, 
and  the  prejudices  raised  by  our  enemies  in  the  minds  of  our 
fellow-citizens,  point  us  out  as  the  proper  objects  of  the  first 
essay  for  religious  tyranny ;  and  should  we  fly  to  the  law- 
makers instead  of  that  great  law  made  by  the  people  to  govern 
the  legislature  itself,  we  should,  in  our  apprehension,  betray 
our  country's  freedom,  and  act  a  cowardly  part.  We  should 
feel  ourselves  very  unhappy  if  there  was  no  other  security  in 
these  matters  than  acts  of  legislation,  which  might  be  repealed 
at  any  time  when  a  particular  party  should  prevail. 

We  do  not  complain  of  persecution,  but  only  of  an  oppression 
which  we  are  convinced  was  intended  by  the  Constitution  to  be 
prevented.  For,  blessed  be  God,  there  is  no  one  sect  or  denom- 
ination at  this  time  so  prevalent  in  the  State  as  to  be  able  to 
introduce  that  horrid  monster  which  for  such  a  number  of  cen- 
turies has  made  havoc  &  destruction  in  the  christian  world. 

Fellow-Citizens,  When  you  shall  be  pleased  to  consider  the 
vast  variety  of  pursuits  which  the  human  race  have  been 
engaged  in  to  procure  that  happiness  which  all  are  in  search 
after ;  that  what  would  canonize  a  man  as  a  saint  in  one  coun- 
try would  bring  him  to  infamy  in  another;  that  though  men 

*  If  we  did  it  with  a  view  only  to  save  our  being  taxed. 


152  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

may  have  very  different  principles,  yet  they  may  be  alike  en- 
gaged in  their  researches  after  the  truth.  In  short,  when  you 
extend  your  charity  according  to  the  dictates  of  reason  and 
the  instructions  of  the  Christian  religion.  We  believe  that  you 
will  be  contented  to  have  our  Sect  treated  as  you  wish  to  be 
treated  yourselves.  And  that  it  will  be  your  endeavor  that  we 
shall  possess  ourselves  in  peace  and  security. 

We  wish  you  to  do  in  this  case  unto  us,  as  you  would  reason- 
ably expect  us  to  do  unto  you  in  similar  circumstances.  That 
those  who  are  Congregationalists  may  bring  the  matter  home 
to  themselves,  we  beg  them  to  consider  how  they  would  stand 
affected  if  a  majority  of  their  parish  should  become  Baptists, 
Presbyterians,  Independents,  or  Sandemanians;  and  should 
elect  a  teacher  whom  they  could  not  hear,  and  set  up  a  form  of 
worship  in  which  they  could  not  join,  and  compel  the  minority 
who  were  Congregationalists  to  pay  to  the  support  of  it.  If 
that  be  wrong,  then  we  are  abused,  unless  one  sect  is  in  subor- 
dination to  another,  and  religion  is  no  longer  a  matter  between 
the  heart  of  each  individual  and  his  God,  but  a  matter  sub- 
mitted to,  and  under  the  controul  of  a  majority  in  society. 

"Judge  not  that  ye  be  not  judged;  for  with  what  judgment 
ye  judge,  ye  shall  be  judged;  and  with  what  measure  ye  mete, 
it  shall  be  measured  to  you  again." 


APPENDIX. 

Articles  in  the  Declaration  of  RIGHTS. 
II.  It  is  the  right  as  well  as  the  duty  of  all  men  in  society, 
publickly,  and  at  stated  seasons,  to  worship  the  SUPREME 
BEING,  the  great  creator  and  preserver  of  the  universe.  And 
no  subject  shall  be  hurt,  molested,  or  restrained,  in  his  person, 
liberty  or  estate,  for  worshipping  GOD  in  the  manner  and  sea- 
son most  agreeable  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience;  or  for 
his  religious  profession  or  sentiments;  provided  he  doth  not 
disturb  the  public  peace,  or  obstruct  others  in  their  religious 
worship. 


ELMER     H.     CAPEN,     D.D., 

Ninth  Pastor,  1865-1869. 


APPENDIX.  153 

III.  As  the  happiness  of  a  people,  and  the  good  order  and 
preservation  of  civil  government,  essentially  depend  upon  piety, 
religion  and  morality;  and  as  these  cannot  be  generally  diffused 
through  a  community,  but  by  the  institution  of  the  public  wor- 
ship of  GOD,  and  of  public  instructions  in  piety,  religion  and 
morality:  Therefore,  to  promote  their  happiness,  and  to  se- 
cure the  good  order  and  preservation  of  thejr  government,  the 
people  of  this  Commonwealth  have  a  right  to  invest  their  legis- 
lature with  power  to  authorize  and  require,  and  the  legislature 
shall,  from  time  to  time,  authorize  and  require,  the  several 
towns,  parishes,  precincts,  and  other  bodies  politic,  or  religious 
societies,  to  make  suitable  provision,  at  their  own  expence,  for 
the  institution  of  the  public  worship  of  GOD,  and  for  the  sup- 
port and  maintenance  of  public  protestant  teachers  of  piety, 
religion  and  morality,  in  all  cases  where  such  provision  shall 
not  be  made  voluntarily. 

And  the  people  of  this  Commonwealth  have  also  a  right  to, 
and  do,  invest  their  legislature  with  authority  to  enjoin  upon 
all  the  subjects,  an  attendance  upon  the  instructions  of  the  pub- 
lic teachers  aforesaid,  at  stated  times  and  seasons ;  if  there  be 
any  on  whose  instructions  they  can  conscientiously  and  con- 
veniently attend. 

Provided  notwithstanding,  that  the  several  towns,  parishes, 
precincts,  and  other  bodies-politic,  or  religious  societies,  shall, 
at  all  times,  have  the  exclusive  right  of  electing  their  public 
teachers,  and  of  contracting  with  them  for  their  support  and 
maintenance. 

And  all  monies  paid  by  the  subject  to  the  support  of  public 
worship,  and  of  the  public  teachers  aforesaid,  shall,  if  he  require 
it,  be  uniformly  applied  to  the  support  of  the  public  teacher  or 
teachers  of  his  own  religious  sect  or  denomination,  provided 
there  be  any  on  whose  instructions  he  attends ;  otherwise  it 
may  be  paid  towards  the  support  of  the  teacher  or  teachers  of 
the  parish  or  precinct  in  which  the  said  monies  are  raised. 

And  every  denomination  of  Christians,  demeaning  them- 
selves peaceably,  and  as  good  subjects  of  the  Commonwealth, 
shall  be  equally  under  the  protection  of  the  law :  And  no  sub- 
ordination of  any  one  sect  or  denomination  to  another  shall  ever 
be  established  by  law. 


154  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

ASSOCIATION  of  the   Independent  Church  in  Glocester. 

Inasmuch  as  it  hath  pleased  God  of  his  great  mercy,  in  every 
age  of  the  world,  to  choose  a  people  for  himself ;  giving  them 
his  fear,  and  revealing  to  them  his  secret ;  and  as  this  great 
Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
hath  been  pleased  to  reveal  to  babes,  what  he  has  hid  from  the 
wise  and  prudent :  We  the  subscribers,  gratefully  affected  with 
a  sense  of  the  divine  goodness,  in  thus  distinguishing  us,  who 
had  nothing  in  us  to  merit  his  notice ;  think  it  our  interest  and 
bounden  duty,  to  let  our  light  shine  before  men,  that  they  may 
see  our  good  works,  and  glorify  our  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 
As  therefore  it  has  pleased  God  to  make  us  acquainted  with  the 
voice  of  the  good  shepherd,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  great 
shepherd  and  bishop  of  souls ;  we  cannot  from  henceforward 
follow  the  voice  of  a  stranger  ;  nor  ever  give  attention  to  such 
who  are  unacquainted  with  the  Saviour  of  the  world.  But 
though  we  cannot  have  fellowship  with  them  whose  fellowship 
is  not  with  the  Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ ;  yet  we 
are  determined,  by  the  grace  of  God,  never  to  forsake  the  as- 
sembling of  ourselves  together,  as  the  manner  of  some  is ;  but 
as  a  church  of  Christ,  meet  together  in  his  name,  being  per- 
suaded, wherever,  or  whenever  two  or  three  are  thus  met  to- 
gether, the  invisible  God  will  be  present  with  them. 

As  Christians,  we  acknowledge  no  master  but  Christ  Jesus, 
and  as  disciples  of  this  divine  master,  we  profess  to  follow  no 
guide  in  spiritual  matters,  but  his  word,  and  his  spirit. 

As  dwellers  in  this  world,  though  not  of  it,  we  hold  ourselves 
bound  to  yield  obedience  to  every  ordinance  of  man,  for  God's 
sake;  and  we  will  be  peaceable  and  obedient  subjects  to  the 
powers  that  are  ordained  of  God,  in  all  civil  cases :  But  as  sub- 
jects of  that  King,  whose  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world — we 
cannot  acknowledge  the  right  of  any  human  authority  to  make 
laws  for  the  regulating  of  our  conscience  in  any  spiritual  mat- 
ters. 

Thus,  as  a  true  independent  church  of  Christ,  looking  unto 
Jesus  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith,  we  mutually  agree  to 
walk  together  in  christian  fellowship,  building  up  each  other  in 
our  most  holy  faith,  rejoicing  in  the  liberty  wherewith  Christ 
hath  made  us  free,  and  determining  by  his  grace,  no  more  to  be 
entangled  by  any  yoke  of  bondage. 


APPENDIX.  155 

As  disciples  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus,  we  resolve  as  far 
as  in  us  lieth,  to  live  peaceably  with  all  men ;  yet  as  believers 
living  godly  in  Christ  Jesus,  we  expect  to  suffer  as  much  perse- 
cution as  the  laws  of  the  country  we  live  in,  will  admit  of : 
But  we  resolve  by  the  grace  of  God,  none  of  these  things  shall 
move  us  to  act  inconsistent  with  our  character  as  christians. 
We  will  as  much  as  possible  avoid  vain  jangling,  and  unneces- 
sary disputation;  and  should  we  be  reviled,  endeavor  in  pa- 
tience to  possess  our  souls. 

As  an  independent  church  of  Christ  thus  bound  together  by 
the  cords  of  his  love,  and  meeting  together  in  his  name ;  we 
mutually  agree  to  receive  as  our  Minister,  that  is  our  Servant, 
sent  to  labour  among  us  in  the  work  of  the  gospel  by  the  great 
Lord  of  the  vineyard,  our  friend  and  christian  brother  John 
Murray  :  This  we  do  from  a  full  conviction  that  the  same 
God  that  sent  the  first  preachers  of  Jesus  Christ,  sent  him ;  and 
that  the  same  gospel  they  preached,  we  have  from  time  to  time 
received  from  him  :  Thus,  believing  him  a  minister  of  the  New 
Testament,  constantly  declaring  the  whole  counsel  of  God; 
proclaiming  the  same  divine  truth  that  all  God's  holy  Prophets 
from  the  beginning  of  the  world  hath  declared  :  WE  cordially 
receive  him  as  a  Messenger  from  God.— And  as  it  hath  pleased 
God  to  open  a  great  and  effectual  door  for  the  preaching  of  his 
gospel  by  this  his  servant  in  sundry  parts  of  this  great  conti- 
nent, whenever  it  shall  please  his  and  our  divine  master  to  call 
him  to  preach  the  everlasting  gospel  elsewhere,  we  wish  him 
God-speed ;  and  pray  that  the  good-will  of  him  that  dwelt  in 
the  bush  may  acccompany  him,  and  make  his  way  clear  before 
him:  But  should  he  at  any  time  preach  any  other  gospel,  than 
that  we  have  received,  we  will  not  wish  him  God-speed,  but 
consider  him  as  a  stranger.— And  as  the  great  Lord  of  the  har- 
vest has  taught  us  to  pray  that  he  would  send  labourers  into 
his  harvest ;  and  as  he  never  taught  us  to  pray  in  vain,  but  has 
assured  us,  every  one  that  asketh  receiveth,  though  he  has  not 
told  us  when,  whenever  he  shall  see  fit  to  send  us  a  messenger 
of  glad  tidings,  a  publisher  of  peace,  we  will  with  grateful 
hearts  receive  him. — And  as  the  promise  of  the  divine  presence 
is  to  any  two  or  three  that  meet  together  in  the  Saviour's  name ; 
we  are  resolved  by  God's  grace,  whether  we  are  blessed  with 
the  publick  preaching  of  the  word  or  not,  as  often  as  we  find 


156  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

convenient,  to  meet  together,  to  supplicate  the  divine  favour,  to 
praise  our  redeeming  God,  to  hear  his  most  holy  word,  and 
freely  to  communicate  whatever  God  shall  please  to  manifest 
to  us  for  our  mutual  edification. 

And  that  we  may  the  more  effectually  shew  forth  his  praise, 
who  hath  called  us  out  of  darkness  into  his  marvellous  light; 
we  resolve  to  pay  a  serious  regard  to  the  exhortations,  admoni- 
tions and  instructions  given  to  us  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  in  the 
epistles  dictated  to  our  holy  apostles.  We  will,  as  far  as  in  us 
lieth,  do  good  unto  all  men ;  but  especially  unto  them  who  are 
of  the  household  of  faith. 

We  will,  by  the  grace  of  God,  in  word  and  in  deed,  endeavour 
to  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our  Saviour.  And  as  children  of 
one  father,  as  members  of  one  head,  who  are  united  together  in 
Christian-fellowship,  will,  once  every  month  meet  together,  to 
hold  conference,  and  to  deliberate  on  whatever  may  tend  to  our 
mutual  profit. 

Signed  by  all  the  Society. 

[The  names  of  the  signers  were : 

John  Murray,  Winthrop  Sargent,  Catherine  Sargent,  Judith 
Sargent,  Bradbury  Sanders,  Anna  Sanders,  Joseph  Foster, 
Lydia  Foster,  David  Pearce,  David  Plumer,  Elizabeth  Plumer, 
Jonathan  Trask,  Abigail  Trask,  John  Somes,  George  Creighton, 
John  Stevens,  Jr.,  Judith  Stevens,  Philemon  Haskell,  Elizabeth 
Haskell,  John  Stevens  Ellery,  Esther  Ellery,  James  Prentiss, 
Lydia  Prentiss,  William  Pearce,  Moses  Bennett,  Winthrop 
Allen,  Sam'l.  Sayward,  Susa  Sayward,  Abraham  Sawyer,  Ann 
Ollive,  Eben'r.  Hough,  Mary  Hough,  Joseph  Everden,  Aaron 
Lufkin,  Robert  Weston,  Thos.  Sparling,  Isaac  Bennett,  Nabby 
Palfrey,  Jemima  Cook,  Jerusha  Jordan,  Lydia  Parsons,  Israel 
Trask,  Wm.  Dolliver,  Abigail  Dolliver,  Solomon  Babson,  Re- 
bekah  Babson,  Benjamin  Lufkin,  Sarah  Lufkin,  Rebecca  Smith, 
Hannah  Tucker,  Isaac  Ball,  Hannah  Ball,  Mary  Sargent, 
Edw'd.  Grossman,  Rebecca  Parsons,  Jemima  Parsons,  Susanna 
Lane,  Susanna  Mellings,  Mary  Steele,  Rebekah  Ingersoll,  Jo- 
seph Lufkin.] 


APPENDIX.  1 57 


APPENDIX  H. 


AN  ANSWER  TO  A  PIECE,  ENTITLED,  "AN  AP- 
PEAL TO  THE  IMPARTIAL  PUBLICK,  BY  AN 
ASSOCIATION"  CALLING  THEMSELVES  "CHRIS- 
TIAN INDEPENDENTS,  IN  GLOCESTER." 

Fellow-Citizens  — 

We  should  not  have  troubled  the  publick,  or  taken  any  far- 
ther notice  of  the  Appeal  of  those  who  call  themselves  Christian 
Independents  in  Glocester,  than  to  have  read  it  with  an  eye  of 
candour,  had  they  not  grossly  misrepresented  the  truth,  and  in 
several  instances  asserted  things  really  false,  with  a  design 
(we  fear)  of  imposing  upon  the  publick,  and  prejudicing  their 
minds  against  the  truth.     We  shall  therefore, 

ist.  Give  a  fair  and  impartial  relation  of  facts,  as  they  took 
place,  and  gave  rise  to  that  Association  who  now  stile  them- 
selves Christian  Independents. 

2dly,  We  shall  make  a  few  remarks  upon  their  Appeal. 

3dly,  Close  with  a  short  address  to  the  pubHck. 

THE   RELATION   OF   FACTS. 

Sometime  in  the  year  1774,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Chandler, 
the  then  pastor  of  the  first  church  and  parish  in  Glocester,  fell 
into  a  decline,  and  was  not  able  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  The  committee  for  supplying  the  pulpit  was  informed 
that  there  was  one  Mr.  Murray,  in  Boston,  who  came  from  the 
southward,  and  that  he  was  a  wonderful  preacher,  and  urged 
them  to  send  for  him ;'  but  the  committee  thought  it  not  prudent 
to  send  for  a  stranger,  without  something  more  to  recommend 
him  than  what  they  learnt  from  their  informers.  However,  he 
soon  came ;  we  suppose,  by  the  invitation  of  his  private  friends ; 
and  being  introduced  by  them  to  Mr.  Chandler,  he  went  into  a 
free,  candid  and  friendly  conversation  with  him  upon  the  sub- 
ject of  his  education,  and  the  manner  of  his  being  introduced 


158  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

into  the  work  of  the  ministry ;  and  he  freely  told  him,  though 
he  had  not  been  favoured  with  a  liberal  education,  yet  this  was 
more  than  made  up  by  an  extraordinary  call  frojn  Heaven  ; 
and  went  on  to  convince  Mr.  Chandler  of  the  justness  of  his 
claim  to  this  extraordinary  call.  However,  Mr.  Chandler  was 
by  no  means  satisfied ;  yet,  as  there  was  a  sacramental  lecture 
already  appointed,  the  people  in  general  very  desirous  of  hear- 
ing this  stranger,  and  Mr.  Chandler  not  being  able  to  preach 
himself,  consented  that  he  should  preach  in  his  pulpit.  Soon 
after  he  named  his  text,  he  told  us  that  as  he  was  a  stranger  he 
was  at  a  loss  what  to  entertain  us  with  ;  but,  desirous  of  being 
directed,  both  his  text  and  subject  were  revealed  to  him  as  he 
came  along ;  so  he  gave  us  a  sacramental  discourse  (as  he 
called  it)  warm  from  the  fountain  of  inspiration,  and,  in  his 
way,  recommended  to  us  frequent  communion  at  the  Lord's 
table.  In  his  whole  preachment  he  was  very  incoherent,  and 
threw  out  some  dark  and  mystical  things,  which  had  a  very 
different  effect  upon  the  hearers  ;  some  admired  him,  and  swal- 
lowed all  he  said  with  great  avidity;  others  doubted,  and  re- 
turned and  searched  the  Scriptures,  "to  see  if  the  things  which 
had  been  spoken  were  so ;  "  others  were  filled  with  indignation, 
and  said  they  had  been  imposed  upon ;  but  the  majority  were 
for  hearing  him  farther.  At  length  he  opened  his  whole  senti- 
ments, and  roundly  exploded  the  doctrine  of  future  rewards  and 
punishments,  asserting  the  doctrine  of  universal  salvation,  with- 
out exception  or  distinction  of  characters,  openly  ridiculing  the 
distinguishing  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  as  generally  preached 
by  the  regular  ministers  of  this  land,  whom  he  spoke  of  in  the 
most  contemptuous  manner,  as  being  a  group  of  poor  ignorant 
creatures,  who  knew  nothing  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  said, 
"they  were,  like  the  horse  in  the  mill,  confined  to  a  narrow 
circle,  from  whence  they  could  not  depart."  This,  with  many 
other  things  he  said  in  publick,  in  the  run  of  his  discourse,  sat 
isfied  the  doubtful,  and  for  a  while  stumbled  even  his  admirers; 
and  the  meeting-house  doors  were  shut  against  him.  Soon 
after  this,  Mr.  Chandler,  viewing  himself  approaching  fast  to 
the  close  of  life,  sent  for  him,  and  entered  fully  with  him  on  the 
subject  of  universal  salvation,  when  he  asserted  it  in  the  strong- 
est terms;  and  being  asked  whether  there  was  no  exception,  he 
said,   no.     Upon  Judas,  the  traitor,  being  mentioned,  he  said 


APPENDIX.  159 

"  he  doubted  not  but  he  was  now  on  a  throne  of  glory,  and  that 
he  shone  as  bright  as  any  of  the  apostles."  And  when  the  tares 
among  the  wheat  in  the  field  were  mentioned,  (represented  by 
our  Saviour  in  a  parable  as  being  gathered  together  in  bundles 
to  be  burned,  implying  future  punishment),  he  said,  those  tares 
were  the  sins  and  evil  dispositions  of  the  human  heart,  which 
were  punished  in  their  principal,  the  Devil,  separate  from  the 
subject  who  committed  them ;  and  many  other  such  like  strange 
and  incoherent  things  were  advanced  by  him  in  this  conference. 
Mr.  Chandler  said  but  little,  for  he  had  but  little  strength ;  yet 
gave  him,  in  most  affecting  and  melting  strains,  his  dying  ad- 
monition, endeavoring  to  dissuade  him  from  those  strange  and 
absurd  tenets ;  but,  if  he  should  continue  to  advance  them,  not 
to  do  it  here,  to  corrupt  and  mislead  the  dear  people  of  his 
charge.  After  this,  Mr.  Chandler,  for  the  last  time,  got,  with 
much  difficulty,  into  his  own  desk,  where  he  took  an  affecting 
leave  of  his  people,  solemnly  warning  them  not  to  hear  this 
false  and  dangerous  man,  in  the  following  words  : 

"  My  Brethren  and  Friends  :  —  I  have  much  sorrow  of 
heart,  considering  the  state  of  affairs  among  us.  I  am  far  ad- 
vanced in  life,  and  labour  under  threatening  maladies,  and 
know  not  how  soon  I  may  be  taken  from  you  and  from  this 
world.  As  one  drawing  near  the  eternal  world  —  take  heed 
what  you  hear.  The  seeds  of  heresy  are  sowing  and  sprouting 
up  among  us,  and  souls  are  in  danger  of  being  seduced  into 
errours.  There  is  one,  who  calls  himself  John  Murray,  who  has 
declared  the  following  things  to  be  his  settled  opinion:  That 
the  whole  human  race,  every  one  of  Adam's  posterity,  have  an 
interest  in  Christ,  and  are  God's  beloved  ones ;  That  the  whole 
human  race,  every  individual  of  mankind,  shall  finally  be  saved; 
That  Judas  shall  sit  upon  a  throne  in  the  kingdom  of  Heaven; 
That  at  death  the  good  go  into  a  state  of  happiness,  and  the 
bad  into  an  intermediate  state,  to  abide  there  for  a  certain  sea- 
son, but  shall  finally  be  saved ;  which,  however  dressed  up  in 
soft  terms  and  smooth  expressions,  is  the  very  popish  purgatory. 

"The  substance  of  these  things  and  many  other  errours  he 
hath  openly  avowed,  and  declared  to  be  his  sentiments,  at  my 
house,  in  the  hearing  of  many  witnesses.  These  are  unscrip- 
tural  tenets;  and  notwithstanding  all  his  perverting  the  holy 
Scriptures,  and  wresting  and  torturing  the  word  of  God,  he  was 


l6o  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

not  able  to  produce  one  plausible  proof,  nor  one  rational  argu- 
ment, for  the  support  of  these  pernicious  principles.  They 
naturally  lead  to  many  other  gross  errours  and  popish  absurd- 
ities, and  they  are  extremely  dangerous  to  the  souls  of  men ; 
they  encourage  the  wicked  in  their  wickedness ;  for,  upon  these 
principles,  a  man  may  live  and  die  in  sin,  and  yet  go  to  Heaven 
at  last ;  he  may  get  drunk,  commit  fornication  and  adultery ; 
he  may  cheat,  and  steal,  and  lie,  and  indulge  all  manner  of 
carnal  gratifications,  and  be  saved  nothwithstanding.  But  you 
may  say  you  do  not  discover  any  of  these  errors  in  his  preach- 
ing. Why,  others,  who  have  been  accounted  serious,  discern- 
ing, judicious  men,  and  whose  judgment  would  heretofore  have 
had  some  weight  in  your  minds,  have  discovered  them  in  his 
public  discourses.  But  however  he  seems  artfully  to  hide  them, 
your  minds  are  not  prepared  to  receive  them ;  your  affections 
must  first  be  broken  off  from  your  ministers,  and  your  minds 
filled  with  prejudices  against  them,  by  their  being  reviled  and 
vilified,  and  your  affections  set  upon  hhnself,  and  you  brought 
to  receive  the  words  of  his  mouth  with  implicit  faith ;  then, 
doubtless,  these  dangerous  doctrines,  and  many  others  will  be 
inculcated.  My  brethren  and  friends,  I  must  caution  you  to 
take  heed  and  beware  of  false  teachers.  Beware,  lest  ye  be  led 
away  by  errours,  and  fall  from  your  steadfastness.  Beware  of 
false  prophets,  concerning  whom  our  blessed  Saviour  hath 
warned  us  that  if  it  were  possible  they  shall  deceive  the  very 
elect.  Samuel  Chandler." 

Glocester,  February  3^,  1775. 

And  after  this,  Mr.  Murray  continued  his  preachments  in  a 
private  house,  and  used  every  method  to  touch  the  passions 
and  sooth  the  vices  of  mankind,  to  gain  proselytes  to  his  party, 
till  Mr.  Chandler  died,  which  was  on  the  i6th  of  March,  1775. 
The  town,  from  a  tender  concern  for  the  morals  of  the  people, 
and  that  they  might,  if  possible,  preserve  peace  and  good  order 
in  the  place,  took  the  matter  up,  and  sent  for  this  stranger,  and 
inquired  of  him,  who  he  was?  what  were  his  credentials.?  and 
for  what  purpose  he  tarried  in  this  place?  The  town  thought 
they  were  illy  treated  by  him,  and  resolved  pretty  unanimously 
that  he  was  a  dangerous  man,  and  should  be  desired  to  leave 
the  town  in   a  given  time;  but  he  positively  told  those  who 


APPENDIX.  l6l 

delivered  the  message  to  him  from  the  town,  that  he  would  not; 
and,  to  prevent  his  being  carried  out  by  an  officer,  one  of  his 
friends  made  him  a  freeholder.  And  as  we  were  then  involved 
in  a  war  with  our  mother  state,  and  men's  passions  were  agi- 
tated and  fiery,  we  thought  it  not  best  to  carry  matters  to  ex- 
tremity, and  so  he  continued ;  and  the  separation  remained 
much  the  same,  till  we  gave  Mr.  Forbes  an  invitation  to  settle 
with  us  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  when  the  separation  made 
a  formal  opposition,  as  appears  by  their  letter  to  him,  which  is 
as  follows : 

Glocester^  April  A^th^  1776. 
"Reverend  Sir:  —  You  will  have  laid  before  you  the  votes 
of  the  parish,  relative  to  your  settlement ;  and  as  it  may  be  of 
great  importance  to  you  as  well  as  us,  we  think  it  our  duty  to 
address  you  on  the  subject.  For  many  years  past,  our  trade, 
and  particularly  the  fishery,  by  which  our  chief  dependence  is, 
has  greatly  declined ;  that  except  a  very  few  persons,  we  have 
been  carrying  on  both  trade  and  fishery  to  a  very  great  loss ; 
that  many  of  us  have  sunk  thousands  ;  that  we  have  large  debts 
outstanding,  which  will  be  entirely  lost ;  our  fishery  at  present 
is  at  an  end,  and  merchandize  very  dangerous  and  precarious ; 
several  of  our  vessels  taken,  others  missing;  our  tradesmen 
and  labourers  dependent  mostly  on  the  trade  for  their  subsist- 
ence. Should  the  publick  dispute  continue  much  longer,  our 
fishery  must  be  entirely  ruined,  and  then  of  course  all  other 
business  must  fail  here,  of  any  consequence,  as  we  are  such  a 
distance  from  the  country  that  it  will  be  in  vain  to  expect  any- 
thing therefrom  in  our  trade.  We  are  greatly  in  arrears  in  our 
taxes  of  every  kind  for  two  years  past ;  new  and  heavy  ones 
increasing  daily ;  most  of  our  people  gone ;  not  the  least  expec- 
tation but  we  shall  be  put  to  the  flight  again ;  two  or  three  of 
our  principal  traders  left  the  parish,  and  more  intend  it.  Some 
of  us  remember  the  Spanish  and  French  wars  at  different  pe- 
riods, with  other  sore  calamities;  but  never  did  our  eyes  behold 
such  a  gloomy  aspect  as  our  affairs  wear  at  this  season.  In 
short,  time  would  fail  us  to  enumerate  the  many  difficulties  that 
attend  us.  We  are  desirous  that  that  harmony  that  has  sub- 
sisted these  many  years  in  this  parish  may  continue.  If  you 
think  proper  to  give  your  voice  in  the  affirmative,  it  must  en- 
tirely be  at  an  end,  as  we  shall  be  obliged  to  take  such  steps 


1 62  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

as  would  by  no  means  be  agreeable  to  you  or  our  brethren; 
therefore  we  thought  it  our  duty  to  apprize  you  of  this,  and 
hope  your  wisdom  will  direct  you  to  that  which  will  be  to  your 
honour.     We  are  your  most  humble  servants." 

This  letter  was  signed  by  ten  of  those  that  now  form  the 
Association.  As  it  did  not  appear  by  this  letter  that  the  oppo- 
sition was  against  him  (Mr.  Forbes),  or  that  they  had  any  ob- 
jection to  his  doctrines  or  character,  but  against  a  re-settlement 
in  general,  therefore  we  thought,  and  the  installing  council 
thought,  it  would  be  no  bar  to  his  settlement ;  accordingly, 
being  chosen  by  a  large  majority  both  in  the  church  and  parish, 
and  a  council  being  convened  by  letters  missive  for  that  pur- 
pose, he  was  installed  on  the  fifth  of  June,  1776,  without  any 
opposition,  and  in  as  much  peace  and  harmony  as  could  be 
expected.  After  this,  Mr.  Forbes  had  several  conferences  with 
Mr.  Murray,  and  wished  to  know  his  true  character;  but  he 
could  not  learn  it  from  him  or  his  adherents;  and  being 
informed  that  Dr.  Stiles,  of  Newport,  then  residing  at  Ports- 
mouth, and  now  President  of  New-Haven  college,  had  the  best 
intelligence,  he  wrote  him  on  the  subject,  and  had  in  answer  the 
following : 

Ports7nouth^  Dec.  24,  1777. 

"Rev.  Sir:  —  Mr.  Murray,  of  whom  you  ask  some  account, 
is  one  of  those  ostentatious,  obstinate,  but  subtle,  delusory 
characters,  with  which  it  is  best  to  have  little  to  do.  I  do  not 
know  that  his  moral  character  is  directly  reprehensible,  but  I 
believe  him  to  be  one  of  the  most  unprincipled  of  all  men.  The 
most  of  the  little  I  know  of  him  I  received  from  his  own  mouth, 
and  from  that  little  I  judge  him  a  consummate  hypocrite  ;  at 
best,  he  is  a  man  of  duplicity  and  dubiousness  of  conduct.  He 
is  a  man  of  no  education,  though  he  spent  a  few  months  with, 
I  think,  a  Romanist,  who  had  set  up  a  little  academy  in  Ireland, 
when  he  quarrelled,  or  seemed  to  quarrel,  with  his  master,  and 
left  him  abruptly.  He  was  connected  with  the  Westleans  till 
he  was  18;  then  he  quarrelled  with  and  left  them.  He  so  far 
went  over  to  the  Baptists,  that  he  was  rebaptized  by  immersion, 
in  Ireland,  among  the  Baptists.  From  the  time  he  left  the 
Westleans,  till  just  before  he  came  to  America,  he  connected 
himself  with  no  religious  society,  but  followed  the  trade  of  a 
silk  weaver,  in  London,  about  12  years.     This  business  failing. 


APPENDIX.  163 

he  meditated  coming  to  America,  though  with  no  thoughts  of 
preaching.  Though  unused  to  attend  the  Tabernacle,  yet  he 
applied  to  Mr.  Whitefield,  just  before  his  last  voyage  to  Amer- 
ica, and  with  his  leave  he  partook  of  the  Sacrament  once  at  the 
Tabernacle.  This  was  religious  hypocrisy,  for,  whatever  he 
was,  he  was  neither  a  Whitefieldean,  nor  a  Westlean,  nor  a 
Baptist. 

"He  told  me  he  did  not  communicate  to  Mr.  Whitefield  his 
intentions  of  coming  to  America ;  but  the  plan  he  had  pro- 
jected, he  said,  was  this :  to  come  here  as  a  follower  of  Mr. 
Whitefield,  and  here  to  make  himself  known  to  him  by  remind- 
ing him  of  his  communicating  at  the  Tabernacle,  and  then 
request  of  Mr.  Whitefield  to  put  him  into  some  secular  employ- 
ment at  the  Orphan  House  in  Georgia;  for,  he  said,  he  never 
had  preached  in  England,  and  had  no  thoughts  of  it  here, 
except  that  he  had  sometimes  spoken  or  exhorted  in  some  of 
the  small  Westlean  societies  before  he  was  18  years  old.  Upon 
coming  here,  his  plan  was  broken  up,  as  Mr.  Whitefield  died  a 
few  weeks  before  or  after  his  arrival.  I  have  been  informed  of 
some  of  his  ludicrous  and  jocund  conversation,  while  on  the 
passage,  respecting  what  business  he  should  follow  here,  inti- 
mating his  readiness  to  go  upon  the  stage,  or,  &c.  &c.,  indicat- 
ing an  undetermined  and  an  unprincipled  adventurer,  ready, 
indifferently,  to  turn  himself  to  any  course.  Being  ship- 
wrecked on  the  Jersey  shore,  he  was  received  with  hospitality 
by  an  opulent  Presbyterian,  who  had  built  a  meeting-house 
there  for  travelling  ministers,  especially  those  sent  by  the 
Synods.  Mr.  Murray  here  offered  himself  first  to  preach. 
From  that  time  to  this  he  has  been  preaching  in  different  parts, 
as  you  know. 

There  was  a  society  set  up  in  London,  about  1765,  which  held 
the  principles  that  Mr.  Murray  does.  I  suppose  that  when  Mr. 
Murray  determined  to  profane  the  sacred  desk,  he  recollected 
and  took  this  society  for  his  model ;  resolving  to  strike,  like 
Sandeman,  at  all  ministers  and  churches,  and  thus  render  him- 
self noticed ;  and  then  choose  out  a  palatable  religion  for  cor- 
rupt nature,  and  so  go  forth  preaching,  as  he  has  done,  with  an 
unpolite  and  unparalleled  effrontery.  He  adopts  the  principles 
of  universal  salvation^  but  is  no  ways  versed  in  the  writings 
and  arguments   upon   it,  except   a   pamphlet  writer  or  two,  of 


164  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

very  small  and  slender  talents.  His  scheme  is  short :  All  are 
lost  without  possibility  of  self-recovery;  and  all  are  saved  by 
Christ's  righteousness  and  divine  love.  All  texts  of  Scripture 
speaking  of  love  and  mercy,  he  takes  literally ;  those  that  speak 
of  punishment,  both  the  parables  and  express  declarations  of 
Christ,  he  allegorizes,  till  he  loses  his  hearers  in  clouds  and 
delusions  of  universal  happiness.  But  he  is  unstudied  and  un- 
digested in  his  own  scheme.  At  first  he  laughed  at  a  literal 
hell,  and  denied  all  future  misery.  Afterwards  he  allowed  some 
future  punishment,  but  denies  the  eternity  of  it,  and  goes  into 
the  popish  doctrine  of  purgatory.  In  short,  he  is  to  this  day 
unsettled  in  his  scheme  —  a  scheme  infinitely  dangerous  to 
morality.  When  he  visited  me,  I  asked  his  opinion  respecting 
his  supposed  tenet  of  universal  salvation.  But  he  positively 
denied  it  to  me,  and  asserted  both  the  reality  and  perpetuity  of 
the  future  misery  and  damnation  of  those  of  the  human  race 
who  should  be  found  on  the  left  hand  of  Jesus;  and  he  said  a 
number  of  mankind  would  be  found  on  the  left  hand  of  Jesus, 
at  the  great  day.  I  believed  him  for  once,  though  I  never  asked 
him  to  preach  in  my  pulpit,  where  he  had  preached  repeatedly 
in  my  absence.  But  he  went  no  further  than  Narraganset,  and 
preached  directly  contrary ;  and  at  East  Greenwich,  in  conver- 
sation, he  denied  a  hell  —  not  only  a  local  hell,  but  that  there 
was  any  state  of  misery  after  death.  And  it  is  said  that  once, 
after  supper,  he  talked  ludicrously  of  the  Lord's  supper,  as 
being  only  hke  drinking  a  health  unto  the  memory  of  an  absent 
friend;  and  profanely  said.  Here  is  bread,  and  here  is  wine; 
what  forbids  but  we  should  have  it  now?  One  of  the  company 
replied.  Several  things  forbid  it :  in  order  to  a  due  partaking  or 
administering  of  that  holy  ordinance,  there  are  two  things  nec- 
essary, viz.,  proper  subjects,  and  a  proper  person  to  administer 
it ;  neither  of  which,  says  he,  do  I  know  to  be  here.  Murray 
replied.  They  were  fit  subjects,  and  he,  or  any  other  person, 
had  power,  &c.,  and  so  it  ended.  Mr.  Murray  denies  all  this, 
with  certain  artful  duplicity  or  coverings  ;  but  I  had  it  from  the 
mouth  of  one  of  the  gentlemen  present,  and  do  not  doubt  the 
fact.  Indeed,  it  is  said  by  others,  that  now  he  talks  lightly 
about  outward  ordinances.  When  he  was  at  Newport,  he  went 
to  the  Quakers'  meeting  there,  when  he  rose  and  spoke,  and 
personated  the  Quaker  preacher,  to  the  universal  disgust  of  the 


APPENDIX.  165 

Friends  and  all  others,  even  his  best  admirers,  sundry  of  whom 
I  heard  pronounce  it  hypocrisy.  Some  men  of  his  sentiments 
may  be  reasoned  with,  some  cannot;  he  is  one  of  those  with 
whom  it  is  vain  to  reason.  I  rather  consider  him  a  Romanist 
in  disguise,  endeavoring  to  excite  confusion  in  our  churches. 
But  I  can  easily  see  he  is  the  meteor  of  the  night  only;  like 
S — d — n  or  G — r — n,  he  and  his  disciples  will  soon  vanish  ; 
though  we  must  expect  others  to  rise  up,  till  the  second  coming 
of  Christ.  Let  us  not  be  distressed.  Let  us  testify  the  truth 
with  firmness,  and  leave  the  church  to  the  care  of  Jesus. 
I  am,  sir,  your  brother, 

Ezra  Stiles. 

"  P.  S.  In  his  politicks  he  has  been  at  first  an  Anti-American, 
then  for  us,  and  now  against  us,  and  for  reconciliation,  &c." 

This  letter  Mr.  Forbes  communicated  to  Mr.  Murray,  and, 
by  the  Doctor's  leave,  gave  him  an  attested  copy,  at  which  he 
appeared  much  offended,  and  said  that  he  would  prove  to  the 
world  that  it  was  a  false  and  injurious  aspersion,  and  made  for 
a  while  a  bustle,  and  did  nothing;  so  his  character  with  us 
remains  just  in  that  point  of  light  in  which  the  Doctor  gave  it. 

In  the  Preface  (dated  Boston,  Aug.  1782)  to  the  Pamphlet 
entitled,  "Salvation  for  all  Men,"  is  the  following  paragraph: 

"  The  doctrine  of  Universal  Salvation  has,  in  this  and  some 
other  towns,  been  held  forth  by  a  stranger,  who  has,  of  himself, 
assumed  the  character  of  a  preacher,  in  direct  contradiction 
not  only  to  all  the  before  mentioned  writers,  but  to  the  whole 
tenour  of  the  New  Testajnent  books,  from  their  beginning  to 
their  end.  According  to  this  preacher,  a  man  may  go  to 
Heaven,  notwithstanding  all  the  sins  he  has  been  guilty  of  in 
the  course  of  his  life.  Such  a  doctrine  looks  very  like  an 
encourageine7it  to  libertinis7n,  and  falls  in  with  the  scheme  of 
too  many  in  this  degenerate  age,  who,  under  pretence  of  pro- 
moting religio7i,  jmdermiite  it  at  the  very  root.  It  is  certainly 
fitted  to  this  end,  and  has  already  had  this  effect  upon  many, 
especially  of  our  younger  people,  who,  by  means  of  it,  have  lost 
all  sense  of  religion,  and  given  themselves  up  to  the  most  crim- 
inal excesses !  If  this  kind  of  preaching  is  encouraged,  it  may 
prove  as  hurtful  to  civil  society  as  to  religion.^'' 

As  there  were  a  number  in  this  separation  who  were  mem- 
bers of  our  church  in  full  standing,  who  had  forsaken  our  wor- 


1 66  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

ship  and  communion  to  follow  this  stranger,  without  giving  any 
reasons  for  their  so  doing,  we  thought  it  our  duty  to  inquire 
into  the  reasons  of  their  conduct ;  therefore  appointed  a  church 
meeting  for  that  purpose,  but  they  did  not  attend.  We  then 
adjourned  the  meeting,  and  wrote  to  them  severally,  desiring 
them  to  give  us  their  reasons,  if  any  they  had,  why  they  ab- 
sented themselves  from  the  worship  of  God,  and  our  commu- 
nion ;  but  they  refused  to  meet  with,  or  to  give  us  any  reasons 
for  their  conduct.  We  wrote  them  again,  as  a  church,  in  the 
most  pacifick  manner,  praying  them,  if  they  had  any  matters 
of  grievance,  they  would  make  them  known  ;  or  if  they  were  of 
such  a  nature  as  that  they  were  not  willing  that  we  should 
judge  of  them,  that  they  would  propose  some  method  in  which 
the  grievance  might  be  removed,  or  an  accommodation  take 
place ;  or  we  were  ready  to  submit  the  matter  to  the  judgment 
of  a  council  of  church  members,  mutually  chosen  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  we  would  submit  our  whole  conduct  to  the  inspection 
and  determination  of  the  same ;  so  we  did  everything  in  our 
power  to  satisfy  or  recover  our  deserting  and  separating  mem- 
bers, as  will  abundantly  appear  by  the  church  records. 

But  this,  and  every  other  method  we  could  adopt,  they 
treated  with  silent  contempt.  Yet  we  have  ever  treated  them 
in  the  most  lenient  manner.  But  the  outcry  is,  they  are  op- 
pressed, because  they  are  taxed  in  common  for  the  payment  of 
parish  charges.  But  we  think  that  as  they  never  have  been 
incorporated  by  any  order  or  authority  known  in  this  common- 
wealth, nor  at  any  time  laid  before  us  as  a  parish  any  reasons 
why  they  should  be  exempted,  we  cannot  levy  a  lawful  tax  with- 
out including  them.  And  we  have  borne  with  them  from  year 
to  year;  and  when  any  of  our  collectors  have  called  upon  them 
for  their  proportion  of  taxes,  they  have  treated  them  ill,  and 
sometimes  have  threatened  their  lives;  and  we  forebore  still. 
At  length  they  agreed  that  we  should  distrain  on  some  of  their 
party,  and  then  they  would  try  it  out  in  the  law;  and  as  we 
saw  no  other  way  to  have  the  matter  issued,  we  agreed  to  the 
measure,  however  disagreeable  it  was  for  us  to  enter  into  the 
law ;  and  we  distrained  on  the  goods  of  four  of  their  number, 
named  by  them,  and  sold  them  at  publick  auction,  and  paid 
their  tax,  and  tendered  them  the  overplus;  but  they  would  not 
receive  it,  but  cried  out  of  oppression  and  injury,  though  it  was 


APPENDIX.  167 

a  proposal  of  their  own,  to  which  we  agreed  only  to  bring  the 
matter  to  an  issue.  They  then  endeavored  to  recover  their 
goods  by  a  writ  of  Replevin^  but  failed ;  then  they  sued  the 
assessors,  and  harassed  us  in  the  law  for  several  years,  without 
suffering  their  case  to  come  to  a  trial;  then  they  withdrew  their 
case,  as  not  being  tenable.  And  now  their  teacher,  without  a 
character,  credentials  or  ordination,  has  assumed  the  character 
of  a  public  teacher  of  piety,  religion  and  morality,  stiles  himself 
clerk^  and  sued  the  parish  for  that  money  which  had  been  taken 
from  his  friends  by  distraint ;  and  after  many  unnecessary  de- 
lays it  came  to  a  hearing  before  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court, 
at  their  last  session,  in  Ipswich,  when  a  jury,  in  opposition  to 
the  whole  court,  and  to  the  surprize  of  all  parties,  brought  in  a 
verdict  partly  in  their  favour;  notwithstanding  which,  Mr. 
Murray  has  reviewed,  and  served  us  with  his  writ,  though  we 
had  reviewed  at  the  time  of  trial.  Thus,  while  he  affects  to 
keep  up  an  air  of  importance,  he  is  determined  to  give  us  all 
the  trouble  he  possibly  can. 

This  is  a  concise  and  impartial  relation  of  facts  as  they  took 
place,  and  gave  rise  to  that  Association  who  now  stile  them- 
selves Christian  Independents. 

We  pass,  SECONDLY,  to  make  a  few  Remarks  upon  their 
Appeal. 

ist.  We  cannot  but  remark  upon  the  unheard-of  name  which 
they  have  assumed  —  Christian  Independents/  A  solecism 
in  nature  !  and  when  assumed  by  a  society  in  confederate  states, 
it  implies  treason!  In  a  civil  or  political  view,  it  is  at  best, 
imperium  in  imperio,  which  involves  in  it  a  contradiction ;  and 
if  we  consider  it  in  a  religious  or  ecclesiastical  view,  it  is  ab- 
surd ;  an  independent  church  must  either  be  the  whole  church 
of  Christ,  or  it  must  be  a  particular  part  detached  from  the  body 
catholick;  but  an  independent  part,  or  member  of  the  body 
universal,  is  a  contradiction  ;  for  one  member  "  cannot  say  to 
the  other,  I  have  no  need  of  thee."  The  Christian  church  is 
everywhere  considered  as  consisting  of  confederating  members, 
uniting  in  Christ  the  head,  and  holding  communion  with  each 
other  in  the  doctrines  and  institutions  of  Christ.  But  this  Asso- 
ciation holds  no  communion  with  any  church  on  earth,  in  the 
doctrines  and  ordinances  of  Christ.     They  deny  the  morality  of 


l68  UNIVEKSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

the  Christian  Sabbath,  explode  and  ridicule  the  institutions  of 
baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper.  What  claim  can  they  have, 
then,  to  the  Christian  name,  while  they  deny  and  disuse  the 
distinguishing  ordinances  of  Christianity? 

Having  remarked  this  upon  the  title  page,  we  pass  to  take 
some  notice  of  their  Appeal. 

And  they  introduce  themselves  with  saying,  "We  should  be 
far  from  giving  our  countrymen  the  trouble  of  attending  to 
an  appeal,  had  we  not  been  drawn  before  a  civil  tribunal,  in 
defence  of  what  we  suppose  to  be  our  just,  invaluable  and  con- 
stitutional rights."  To  which  we  would  only  reply.  It  is  not 
we,  but  they,  who  commenced  and  re-commenced  the  lawsuit, 
and  are  now  first  in  serving  us  with  their  writ  of  review;  so  that 
it  was  not  we  who  drew  them,  but  they  us^  before  a  civil  tri- 
bunal, in  defence  of  what  we  call  our  just  and  constitutional 
rights.  In  their  fourth  page  they  seem  to  think  they  have  some 
special  claim  to  the  favour  of  their  country,  from  their  not 
"  shewing  any  backwardness  in  the  late  war."  We  are  sorry 
that  we  are  obliged  to  say  this  is  a  misrepresentation  of  real 
facts;  for  though  some  of  them  have  shown  a  becoming  zeal 
for  the  rights  and  safety  of  their  country,  yet  it  is  a  well-known 
fact  that  all  who  were  unfriendly  to  the  American  cause  here, 
were  in  this  separation.  It  is  also  a  known  fact,  that  their 
teacher  was  admired  most  by  those  that  were  most  unfriendly 
to  the  American  cause,  not  only  in  this  town,  but  through  this 
commonwealth  ;  and  several  who  are  of  this  Association  would 
do  nothing  in  defence  of  the  cause  but  by  constraint.  Little 
reason,  then,  have  they  to  boast  on  this  head,  or  claim  the 
favor  of  their  country  as  her  favorite  sons ;  especially  since  they 
have  a  man  for  their  leader  who  is  himself  a  foreigner,  and  has 
ever  been  the  idol  of  Tories,  and  often  been  closeted  by  the 
rankest  of  that  tribe,  in  other  places  as  well  as  in  this. 

They  say,  also,  in  the  same  page,  "  When  Mr.  Murray,  our 
present  teacher  in  religious  matters,  had  been  invited  to  preach 
in  the  meeting-house,  we  heard  him  with  increasing  pleasure 
and  a  glowing  satisfaction."  This  also  is  a  misrepresentation. 
Many  of  those  who  now  form  the  Association  were  then  his 
greatest  opposers;  and  those  who  were  his  first  admirers,  and 
who  were  chiefly  concerned  in  introducing  him  into  the  pulpit, 


RICHARD      E  D  D  ^',     D .  D  . 

Tenth  Pastor,  1870- 187 7. 


APPENDIX.  169 

soon  discovered  his  Jesuitical  designs,  and  were  the  foremost  in 
endeavoring  his  removal  hence.  In  the  same  page,  also,  they 
say,  "  On  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Forbes,  being  obliged  to  with- 
hold our  assent  to  the  doctrines  he  taught,  disagreed  to  his  set- 
tlement." This  is,  we  think,  a  falsehood ;  which  sufficiently 
appears  from  their  own  letter  sent  to  Mr.  Forbes,  and  commu- 
nicated by  him  to  the  parish.*  This  letter  was  sent  as  contain- 
ing their  objections ;  but  there  is  not  a  word  in  it  which  inti- 
mated that  they  could  not  assent  to  his  doctrines.  The  only 
ostensible  ground  of  their  objection  then  was,  the  then  present 
war,  and  the  circumstances  of  the  parish.  Nay,  upon  being 
asked,  they  said  "they  had  no  objection  to  Mr.  Forbes;  they 
were  willing  to  be  their  proportion  in  hiring  him  fot  a  supply; 
and  if  we  must  settle,  they  were  as  willing  he  should  be  the 
man  as  anybody."  For  them  now  to  say  that  they  could  not 
assent  to  his  doctrines,  and  therefore  disagreed  to  his  settle- 
ment, bears  too  great  a  resemblance  to  a  falsehood.  We 
wished  then,  and  do  now  wish,  to  put  the  best  construction  upon 
this  mystical  part  of  conduct ;  and  we  appeal  to  the  public  to 
say  whether  this  does  not  look  as  if  they  had  formed  a  design 
to  make  a  breach  in  this  (till  then  peaceful)  society,  and  made 
use  of  this  stranger  as  a  fit  tool  to  carry  into  execution  their 
malignant  design. f 

We  leave  now  our  dissenting  brethren  to  contend  with  Con- 
stanthis^  Theodosius^  and  to  define  in  the  school  of  Plato  the 
Homoiousion  as  they  please ;  or  to  dispute  with  their  old  friend 
the  British  monarch  for  the  title,  defender  of  the  faith^  &c. 
and  to  make  their  own  strictures  upon  the  conduct  of  the  first 
settlers  of  this  commonwealth.  Yet  we  cannot  but  observe,  in 
their  13th  page,  how  unfairly  they  speak  of  their  distinguishing 
character.  They  say,  "We  distinguish  ourselves  from  the 
church  under  the  instruction  of  Mr.  Forbes,  in  our  not  using 
baptism  as  an  external  rite,  and  also  in  our  mode  of  discipline, 
being  Independents."  Whereas  the  truth  is,  they  are  totally 
distinguished  from  us,  and  from  all  the  churches  in  this  com- 
monwealth, by  their  being  no  church  at  all,  not  being  incorpo- 
rated by  any  order  or  authority  known  in  this  commonwealth  ; 
but  a  mere  jumble  of  detached  members,  some  of  which,  in  the 

*  Page  7. 

t  See  the  closing  sentence  of  their  letter  to  Mr.  Forbes,  p.  8. 


I/O  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

most  irregular  manner,  separated  themselves,  without  cause, 
from  the  first  church  in  Glocester,  and  who  have  obstinately 
continued  in  their  separation,  against  all  reasoning,  remonstrat- 
ing and  persuasion,  deaf  to  all  the  most  pacifick  proposals  made 
on  the  part  of  the  church  from  whom  they  separated;  and  their 
Association  is  made  up  partly  from  other  parishes,  and  partly 
of  foreigners,  and  some  of  the  most  abandoned  characters ;  in 
short,  any  body  and  any  thing  whom  they  could  by  persuasion 
or  pecuniary  consideration  hire  into  their  service.  We  are 
sorry  to  say  this,  but  are  constrained  to  do  it  in  our  own  de- 
fence, and  in  honour  to  the  church  ;  for  we  think  it  the  highest 
dishonour  to  the  church  of  Christ  for  such  a  heterogeneous 
body  to  call  themselves  a  church,  distinguished  only  from  the 
other  churches  in  this  land  by  the  external  rite  of  baptism,  and 
the  mode  of  discipline.  This  would  naturally  lead  the  impar- 
tial publick  to  conclude  that  they  were  a  set  of  sober  Christians, 
of  tender  consciences,  distinguished  from  their  brethren  only  in 
a  few  non-essential  modes  that  were  merely  external ;  whereas, 
they  have  not  one  single  feature  of  a  church  of  Christ,  or  any 
mode  of  discipline,  that  we  can  discern,  among  them.  They 
resemble  Nebuchadnezzar's  image  as  much  as  any  thing  we 
can  think  of,  which  was  made  of  gold,  silver,  brass,  iron  and 
clay,  and  was  broken  to  pieces  by  a  stone  cast  out  of  the  moun- 
tain without  hands,  and  all  become  like  the  chaff  of  the  summer 
threshing  floor ;  for  some  of  their  members  sustain  fair  moral 
characters,  yet  not  without  a  strong  tinge  of  enthusiasm.  But 
they  ask  "  why  the  Quakers  should  meet  with  the  smiles  of 
government,  and  they  not  have  the  favours  of  the  state?"  We 
answer,  they  are  a  sect  made  up  of  peaceable,  honest  people, 
who  speak  the  truth,  and  should,  therefore,  and  will,  meet  the 
smiles  of  government,  while  those  of  a  contrary  character  may 
expect  their  frowns.  But  they  say,  14th  page,  "  Notwithstand- 
ing this,  we  have  been,  and  are  still,  taxed  to  the  support  of 
Mr.  Forbes,  and  our  property  is  taken  and  exposed  at  auction, 
to  raise  money  for  the  support  of  a  form  of  worship  in  which 
we  can  never  join."  There  they  have  in  part  told  the  truth  ; 
but  they  hold  the  truth  in  unrighteousness,  for  they  seem  not 
to  love  the  truth  in  her  naked  simplicity.  The  simple  truth  is 
this  :  They  have  been  and  are  still  taxed  in  common  with  the 
other  members  of  our  parish  to  raise  money  to  defray  parish 


APPENDIX.  \y\ 

charges,  (some  part  of  which  is  appropriated  to  the  support  of 
publick  worship),  all  which  they  have  constantly  refused  to  pay ; 
and  though  they  pretend  to  ground  that  refusal  upon  the  Con- 
stitution, yet  they  equally  refuse  to  pay  that  which  was  levied 
before  the  Constitution  took  place,  and  have  repeatedly  sued 
us  for  taxes  levied  upon  them  to  pay  the  necessary  and  contin- 
gent charges  of  the  parish,  as  well  as  for  that  which  is  appro- 
priated to  the  support  of  public  worship  —  "a  form  in  which 
(they  say)  they  can  never  join."  Why  ?  When  any  have 
resided  for  a  while  in  neighboring  towns,  they  have  attended 
and  joined  with  the  people  where  they  resided ;  and  some  of 
those  who  were  first  in  the  separation,  and  now  form  the  Asso- 
ciation, being  members  of  our  church,  have  partook  of  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper  in  other  churches,  joining  with 
them  not  only  in  publick  worship,  but  in  the  holy  communion, 
though  they  had  the  same  form  of  worship  as  ours,  and  in  full 
communion  with  our  church ;  so  that  their  cannot  must  be  their 
will  not ;  and  because  they  will  not,  conscience  is  not  concerned 
here. 

In  page  i6th  they  seem  to  be  concerned  for  their  minister, 
lest  they  should  not  be  able  to  prove  that  he  is  a  preacher  of 
piety,  religion  and  morahty;  they  had  rather  the  question 
should  be  waved,  but  if  decided  at  all,  they  think  it  ought  to 
be  from  his  urging  his  hearers  to  the  practice  of  morality.  We 
beg  leave  to  ask,  Can  a  man  who  publickly  discards  the  doc- 
trine of  God's  moral  government  —  of  future  rewards  and  pun- 
ishments —  urge,  with  a  good  face,  or  with  any  hope  of  success, 
the  practice  of  morality,^  Can  he  confidently  preach  up  moral, 
ity,  when  he  at  the  same  time  saps  its  very  foundation,  and 
cuts  the  nerves  of  Christian  piety,  by  blending  all  characters 
together,  and  by  making  all  equally  holy  because  equally  united 
to  Christ  in  his  incarnation?  But  here  our  brethren  tremble 
for  their  minister,  and  would  fain  shelter  him  under  the  cloaks 
of  the  learned  Doctors  Chauncy  and  Priestley,  who,  they  say^ 
beheve  that  there  is  a  temporary  hell  for  the  ungodly  —  and 
why  may  not  their  unlearned  teacher  believe  there  is  no  hell 
prepared  for  any  body  but  the  poor  devils,  and  yet  be  in  law  a 
good  preacher  of  piety,  religion  and  morality?  But  those 
learned  men  will  shake  him  from  their  skirts  as  a  corrupting 
leprosy,  if  we  may  believe  Doctor  Chauncy's  own  words  in  his 
preface  to  his  book  of  extracts. 


1/2  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

We  do  not  know  bow  our  brethren  come  to  blunder  upon 
that  gross  mistake,  "  that  God,  in  his  civil  constitution  he  was 
pleased  to  form  for  the  Jews,  never  in  any  one  instance  gave 
intimation  that  the  Jews  should  be  punished  in  another  world 
for  their  crimes  committed  in  this";  we  charitably  believe  that 
it  was  owing  to  their  being  implicitly  led  by  one  who  is  totally 
ignorant  of  the  original  languages,  the  nature  and  designs  of 
the  Sinai  covenant.  Without  quoting  those  passages  from 
Moses  and  the  prophets  which  would  evince  the  contrary,  (for 
we  are  no  textuaries),  we  refer  them  to  the  apostle  to  the  He- 
brews, who  considered  the  rest  of  the  early  Canaan  as  typical 
of  the  rest  of  the  heavenly ;  and  as  unbelief  and  disobedience 
excluded  the  Jews  from  the  earthly,  so  they  would  from  the 
heavenly.  But  we  are  not  so  much  surprized  at  this  as  we  are 
at  the  indignity  which  they  obliquely  cast  upon  Christ  himself, 
when,  in  page  i8th,  they  say,  "  It  was  not  till  the  Christian 
church  was  illegally  wedded  to  state  policy,  that  men  in  power 
dared  to  hurl  the  thunders  of  the  Most  High  at  those  who 
offended  against  government."  We  disapprove  of  the  terms, 
(though  borrowed  without  credit),  yet  more  of  the  sentiments 
couched  under  those  sonorous  terms.  We  take  it,  both  from 
this  sentence  and  from  what  they  said  above,  that  it  is  their 
opinion  that  it  was  not  till  Christ  came,  a  preacher  of  the  ever- 
lasting gospel,  that  men  were  threatened  with  punishments  in 
another  world  for  crimes  committed  in  this  ;  that  this  is  a  doc- 
trine peculiar  to  Christ  and  his  apostles,  and  so  from  them  has 
been  preached  up,  and  handed  down,  to  this  day,  by  those  who 
knew  no  better.  It  is  certain  Christ  opened  his  ministry  by 
preaching  up  the  doctrine  of  future  rewards  and  punishments ; 
but  our  brethren  say  "this  was  not  done  till  the  Christian 
church  was  illegally  wedded  to  state  policy."  The  Christian 
church  was  formed  by  Chrfst;  she  took  her  name  from  him, 
and  was  so  far  wedded  to  state  policy  as  that  he  made  "kings 
and  queens  nursing  fathers  and  mothers,"  &  made  the  "  earth 
to  help  the  woman."  This  marriage  they  call  illegal,  and  im- 
plicitly charge  it  upon  Christ;  but  they  dare  not  speak  it  out. 
It  was  not  till  then,  they  say,  that  offences  against  government 
were  threatened  with  future  punishment.  All  immoralities  are 
offences  against  government,  against  God's  moral  government, 
and  every  form  which  he  has  ordained  for  men;  and  all  immor- 


APPENDIX.  173 

alities,  without  repentance  and  a  believing  application  to  Christ, 
have  been,  ever  since  the  Christian  era,  threatened  with  future 
punishments.  The  truth  of  the  matter  is  this — the  doctrines 
of  their  teacher  do  not  correspond  with  those  of  Christ  and  his 
apostles ;  yet  they  want  to  make  it  out  that  he  is  a  teacher  of 
piety,  religion  and  morality. 

We  pass  over  all  the  arguments  which  they  deduce  from  the 
various  denominations  which  unhappily  divide  the  Christian 
name,  as  being  futile  and  inconclusive;  yet  cannot  but  observe 
how  inconsistent  they  are  with  themselves,  when  they  say,  20th 
page,  that  "  we  suppose  every  good  7nan^  let  his  involuntary 
errors  be  what  they  may,  will  be  in  the  favour  of  God."  So 
they  suppose  it  consistent  that  every  bad  man,  be  his  involun- 
tary errors  what  they  may,  is  and  will  be  in  favour  with  God. 
But  where  is  the  sense  of  talking  of  good  men  or  bad  men, 
when  with  them  all  characters  are  alike  ? 

We  cannot  close  our  remarks  without  observing  that  towards 
the  close  of  their  Appeal  they  address  the  publick  under  the 
endearing  character  of  fellow-citizens.  This,  we  suppose,  they 
adopt  as  a  conciliating  term,  without  meaning;  for  an  indepen- 
dent fellow-citizen  is  an  animal  we  have  no  name  for,  and 
involves  so  many  contradictions  as  confounds  all  ideas. 

We  pass  over  to  their  Association,  36th  page.  And  we  sup- 
pose that  we  look  on  it  as  the  impartial  public  does  —  a  mere 
farce;  for  there  they  speak  of  an  election  —  "God's  choosing 
in  every  age  a  select  number  for  himself";  whereas  they  deny 
all  elections ;  and  to  this  chosen  body  God  reveals  "his  secret," 
of  which  all  the  world  beside  are  ignorant ;  and  then,  in  a  kind 
of  transport,  they  conceive  themselves  these  favorites:  "  We» 
the  subscribers,  greatly  affected  with  the  divine  goodness  in 
thus  distinguishing  tis,  think  it  our  interest  and  bounden  duty 
to  let  our  lights  shine  before  men,"  &c.,  and  we  think  so,  too. 
But  their  good  works  are,  like  their  revelations,  a  profound 
secret. 

But  they  say,  "it  hath  pleased  God  to  make  us  acquainted 
with  the  voice  of  the  good  Shepherd,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
And  we  ask.  Hath  it  not  pleased  God  to  make  us,  also,  ac- 
quainted with  his  voice.'*  His  word  of  salvation  is  sent  unto  us, 
as  well  as  unto  them.  But  they  say.  We  cannot  follow  a  stran- 
ger, or  give  attention  to  those  who  are  not  acquainted  with  the 


174  UNI  VERS  ALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Saviour ;  and  yet  "  they  have  loved  strangers,  and  after  them 
they  will  go";  while  they  forsake  and  desert  those  whose 
soundness  of  doctrines  and  piety  of  life  have  long  demonstrated 
that  they  have  been  with  Jesus,  forming  their  sentiments  from 
his  doctrines,  and  their  lives  from  his  examples;  for,  besides 
their  present  teacher,  who  is  a  stranger  in  every  sense  of  the 
word,  they  have  in  his  train  a  Tyler,  who  (by  report)  is  a  Tory 
Episcopalian,  a  Wright,  who  is  a  German  Moravian,  with  an 
illiterate  Towfisend,  Streeter,  Parker,  a  duplicate  of  Winches- 
ters, &c.,  &c.  A  goodly  band  indeed!  With  such  strolling 
mendicants  this  town  has  been  infested  ever  since  this  Associa- 
tion has  been  formed ;  which  has  kept  us  in  one  continual  hub- 
bub, to  the  obstructing  business,  the  corrupting  the  morals,  of 
youth  especially,  and  the  total  destruction  of  peace  and 
harmony. 

But  they  say,  "We  resolve,  by  the  grace  of  God,  we  will 
avoid,  as  much  as  possible,  vain  janghng  and  unnecessary 
disputation,  &c. ;  "  and  yet  the  very  reverse  has  been  their  con- 
stant practice,  especially  with  those  who  have  the  greatest  influ- 
ence. Such  is  their  rage  for  proselyting,  that  they  are  forever 
disputing,  and  using  every  art  of  fascination ;  and  upon  those 
whom  they  cannot  gain  to  their  party  by  these  means,  they  try 
the  force  of  interest,  promising  those  that  come  into  town  to 
seek  employment  that  they  will  put  them  into  business,  promis- 
ing them  constant  employment  if  they  will  go  to  their  meeting; 
and  threatening  others,  who  are  already  in  their  employ,  that 
they  will  turn  them  out  unless  they  will  be  of  their  party ;  so 
that  some,  who  have  no  affection  for  their  system,  attend  their 
meeting  sometimes,  lest  they  and  their  families  should  want 
bread.  And  they  say,  "We  mutually  agree  to  receive  as  our 
minister,  id  est,  as  our  servant,  friend  and  Christian  brother, 
Mr.  John  Murray,  from  a  full  conviction  that  the  same  God 
who  sent  the  first  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ,  sent  him."  So  we 
say,  the  same  God  who  sent  the  spirit  of  truth  into  the  mouths 
of  his  prophets  Elijah  and  Micaiah,  whom  Ahab  hated  because 
they  did  not  sooth  him  in  his  vices,  sent  a  lying  spirit  into  the 
mouth  of  all  his  false  prophets,  for  his  punishment;  and  we 
believe  the  same  Jesus  who  sent  forth  his  seventy  disciples  to 
preach  the  gospel  of  truth,  sent  also  a  legion  of  devils  into  the 
herd  of  swine  for  the  punishment  of  those  who  would  not  re- 


APPENDIX.  175 

ceive  him  and  his  gospel ;  and  we  believe  this  enemy  of  peace 
and  righteousness  was,  by  the  permissive  providence  of  God, 
sent  among  us,  in  sheep's  clothing,  for  our  trial  if  not  for  our 
punishment,  for  abusing  the  gospel  which  has  been  so  clearly 
and  faithfully  preached  among  us  for  a  century  past.  And 
they  say,  "we  cordially  receive  him  as  a  messenger  sent  from 
God ; "  and  we  have  no  right  to  dispute  it,  since  some  of  the 
more  sanguine  among  them  make  no  scruple  to  say  "  that  they 
believe  all  that  he  says  and  does  is  from  the  immediate 
inspiration  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  and  that  *'  he  has  a  commission 
to  baptize  with  the  Holy  Ghost."  And  this  association,  they 
say,  was  signed  by  all  the  society.  But  that  we  deny. 
We  close  with  a  short  address  to  the  impartial  publick. 

Fellow-Citizens, 

You  may  think  yourselves  less  in  danger,  from  the  standard 
of  impiety  being  erected  in  this  small  peninsula  of  Cape  Ann, 
but  the  ill  consequences  may  be  sooner  and  more  sensibly  felt 
by  you,  than  you  are  aware  of.  If  this  Association  should  be 
adopted,  and  this  artful  deceiver  supported  by  law,  we  may 
expect  that  an  hundred  similar  associations  will  soon  be  formed, 
and  as  many  mushroom  teachers  spring  up  from  the  seculency 
of  vice  and  laziness  to  take  the  lead  of  them,  to  the  discourage- 
ment of  all  science  and  erudition,  the  destruction  of  peace  and 
order,  which  will  soon  precipitate  these  infant  free  States  into 
anarchy  and  confusion.  We  speak  feelingly,  from  experience. 
This  town,  once  the  seat  of  peace  and  commerce,  is  now  nod- 
ding on  the  brink  of  ruin,  owing  chiefly,  if  not  entirely,  to  this 
Association,  headed  by  this  foreigner,  who,  through  a  too  great 
indulgence,  has  acquired  the  effrontery  to  claim  equal  privi- 
leges with  the  learned,  regular  and  ordained  ministers  of  this 
commonwealth;  assuming  their  title,  he  sues  for  support.  If 
this  Association  should  be  supported  by  law,  then  any  one,  two 
or  three  families  may  form  themselves  into  the  same,  and  claim 
the  same  privileges.  What  then  will  become  of  our  colleges, 
incorporated  parishes  and  churches?  All  crumbled  into  par- 
ties, and  buried  in  ignorance  and  superstition,  we  shall  be  left, 
too  late,  and  with  more  reason  to  weep,  with  the  Roman  orator, 
O  tempora  !  O  mores !  What  can  we  expect,  when  a  system  is 
defended  and  supported  by  law,  which  destroys  both  the  solem- 


176  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

nity  and  validity  of  an  oath,  which  are  predicated  upon  the  cer- 
tain future  punishment  of  perjury  ?  What  safety,  either  of  our 
persons  or  our  property,  can  we  expect?  Nay,  may  we  not 
expect  frequently  to  see  Beadle's  tragedy  acted  over  again  — 
suicide  and  murders  committed  from  pure  benevolence  ?  And 
what  will  become  of  our  youth  ?  Their  natures  already  viciated, 
their  morals  corrupted  by  this  wretched  system  of  licentious- 
ness, their  opening  minds  uncultivated  with  erudition,  and  un- 
impressed with  virtuous  principles,  they  will  enter  the  stage, 
after  us,  ignorant  and  vicious ;  and  under  the  direction  of  the 
wild-fire  of  enthusiasm,  will  soon  be  swallowed  up  in  the  vortex 
of  superstition.  You  may  say,  this  is  only  the  uncertain  flights 
of  fancy.  No,  fellow-citizens,  no.  We  feel  it,  we  realize  it 
every  day;  and  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  most  judicious  and  feel- 
ing hearts  among  us,  that  this  man  and  his  pernicious  doc- 
trines have  been  more  damage  to  this  town  than  the  late  war ; 
for  while  this  destroyed  our  interest,  those  have  corrupted  our 
morals  in  their  first  principles,  broke  up  our  peace,  and  deeply 
sowed  the  seeds  of  fell  discord  among  us  ;  our  trade  interrupted 
by  a  party  spirit,  our  churches  rent  by  divisions  ;  nothing  can 
be  done  in  town-meeting  but  through  strife  and  unfair  dealings ; 
and  the  offices  of  benevolence  cease,  or  are  confined  to  a  party; 
and  the  contagious  influence  of  this  system  has  been  sensibly 
felt  in  other  towns  through  this  and  the  neighboring  states. 

But  we  feel  most  sensibly  for  the  rising  generation.  There- 
fore, fellow-citizens,  call  your  children  around  you,  fold  them  in 
your  arms,  and  ask  your  own  hearts.  Are  you  willing  that  these 
pieces  of  yourselves  should  be  formed  into  such  an  Association, 
and  have  such  a  teacher  for  their  guide  ?  Or,  in  other  words, 
Are  you  willing  that  knowledge,  virtue  and  religion  should  die 
in  the  hands  of  your  children?  And  as  ye  would  it  should  be 
done  to  and  for  you  and  them,  so  do  ye  for  us  and  ours. 
Consider  of  it,  take  advice,  and  speak  your  minds. 

Published  by  a  Number  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  first 
Parish  in  Glocester^  October^  17^5- 


APPENDIX.  177 


APPENDIX  1. 


MR.  MURRAY'S  BROADSIDE. 

\^The  author  of  the  follozving  Piece  intended  it  for  pub- 
lication in  the  Salem  Gazette  of  November  i,  1785,  but 
Circumstances  renderi?ig  it  expedient  to  publish  it  by  itself, 
the  Reader  will  consider  this  Half  Sheet  as  a  Supplement 
to  that  Paper,  in  order  that  the  Introduction,  and  some 
other  Parts  of  the  Performance,  may  appear  with  Propriety ^^ 

Boston,  October  29,  17S5. 

Mr.  Printer  :  —  Presuming  on  your  known  liberality,  I  beg 
leave  to  offer  to  the  impartial  publick,  through  the  channel  of 
your  paper,  a  few  remarks  on  a  piece  published  last  Thursday, 
entitled  "An  Answer  to  a  Piece  entitled  'An  Appeal  to  the 
Impartial  Publick,'  &c." 

Had  this  collection  of  falsehoods  been  levelled  at  me  only, 
how  slanderous  soever,  I  should  not  have  troubled  you,  or  the 
publick,  with  any  reply  thereto,  or  remarks  thereon;  but  as  it  is 
calculated,  cruelly  calculated,  to  injure  a  considerable  number 
of  very  respectable  characters,  both  in  their  fame  and  fortune, 
a  love  of  truth,  a  detestation  of  falsehood,  and  a  well-rarned 
affection  for  these  respectable  sufferers,  compel  me  to  reply. 

The  writers  of  this  piece  set  out  with  informing  their  fellow- 
citizens  that  they  will  "give  a  fair  and  impartial  relation  of 
facts,  as  they  took  place." 

Had  what  follows,  under  this  head,  been  consistent  with  the 
title,  it  would  have  been  more  for  the  honour  of  the  writers; 
then  would  they  not  have  injured  themselves,  imposed  on  the 
publick,  or  troubled  me  ;  but,  unhappily,  the  very  reverse  of  this 
is  the  case. 

Never,  I  believe,  was  the  publick  more  grossly  imposed  on 
by  a  collection  of  falsehoods,  under  the  title  of  facts,  than  in 
this  ungenerous  Answer  to  the  Appeal.     The  falsity  thereof  is 


1/8  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

so  ve7'y  notorious,  in  almost  every  instance,  that  was  the  piece 
to  go  no  further  than  Glocester,  it  would  be  folly  in  the  extreme 
to  take  any  notice  of  it. 

If  the  limits  of  our  time,  and  your  paper,  would  admit  of  it, 
I  could  trace  them  step  by  step,  and  prove,  to  a  demonstration, 
every  single  charge  they  have  laid  against  me  and  my  Christian 
friends  as  false  as  they  are  slanderous. 

How  very  far  from  the  truth  the  account  they  pretend  to  give 
of  a  conversation  I  had,  years  ago,  with  Mr.  Chandler  !  Here 
they  have  left  unsaid  what  they  ought  to  have  said,  and  deliv- 
ered sayings  I  never  heard  of  before.  The  account  of  this  con- 
versation is  very  far  from  the  truth,  both  in  matter  and  manner ; 
they  have  not  stated,  to  my  knowledge,  one  single  fact  in  that 
conversation ;  and  there  are  living  witnesses,  whose  characters 
will  bear  the  strictest  scrutiny,  that  are  ready,  whenever  they 
are  properly  called  on,  to  prove  this. 

The  account  of  my  first  sermon  is  equally  unfair  and  disin- 
genuous. All  who  are  accustomed  to  hear  me  well  know  I 
never  speak  to  the  people  in  the  manner  they  inform  the  public 
I  then  addressed  them.  I  believe,  most  sincerely,  our  Saviour 
sent  me  to  preach  the  gospel ;  but  I  never  told  Mr.  Chandler, 
"  I  had  an  extraordinary  call  from  Heaven,  to  make  up  the 
want  of  a  liberal  education." 

I  never,  either  in  that  first  sermon  or  any  other,  "  roundly 
exploded  the  doctrine  of  rewards  and  punishments."  I  have 
constantly  supported  the  doctrine  —  not,  indeed,  as  some  do, 
to  the  denying  the  Lord  that  bought  us  —  but  as  far  as  I  found 
it  supported  by  divine  revelation.  I  have  therefore  constantly 
affirmed  that  God  will  reward  every  man  according  to  his  works, 
and  that  neither  here  nor  hereafter  can  any  individual  be 
happy  till  he  is  made  holy. 

I  feel  a  secret  satisfaction  in  the  conscious  assurance  of  never, 
in  the  whole  of  my  labours,  "in  publick  or  private,  openly  or 
secretly,  ridiculing  the  distinguishing  doctrines  of  the  gospel," 
be  they  preached  by  whomsoever  they  may.  My  soul  feeds 
with  inexpressible  delight  on  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel ;  and 
whether  they  are  preached  through  envy  or  through  gain,  I 
cannot  fail  of  rejoicing. 

It  is  not  true  that  I  "  speak  in  a  contemptuous  manner  of  the 
Ministers  of  this  land,  calling  them  a  group  of  ignorant  crea- 


APPENDIX.  179 

tures,  who  know  nothing  of  the  gospel."  This  is  not  the  first 
time  my  adversaries  have  imposed  on  the  publick,  and  endeav- 
ored to  prejudice  the  minds  of  my  fellow-citizens  against  me, 
by  propagating  this  infamous  falsehood.  The  truth  is,  that  I 
believe  the  clerical  character  is  as  well  supported  in  this  as  in 
any  country  under  heaven  ;  and  many  of  them  know  a  vast  deal 
of  the  gospel ;  though,  at  the  same  time,  it  is  a  melancholy 
truth  that  many  of  them,  by  the  meanness  of  their  conduct,  by 
their  lies,  deceit  and  hypocrisy,  bring  a  reproach  on  the  profes- 
sion, and  do  more  towards  encouraging  the  growth  of  infidelity 
and  immorality  than  any  other  characters  in  the  country.  It 
must  have  a  disagreeable  effect  on  the  minds  of  common  peo- 
ple, to  hear  a  man  preaching  up  holiness  while  he  is  continu- 
ally bearing  false  witness  against  his  neighbour,  and,  by  lying 
and  slandering,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  rob  a  neighbour  of 
what  is  infinitely  better  than  life  itself.  But  though  some  indi- 
viduals are  thus  notoriously  base,  the  character  is  certainly  not 
the  worse.  There  are  not,  I  am  persuaded,  better  men  in  this 
or  any  other  country  than  I  have  the  honour  of  being  ac- 
quainted with,  in  the  clerical  character,  in  this  state. 

It  is  not  true  that  I  said  "  the  Apostle  Judas  was  on  a  throne 
of  glory."  Whenever  I  have  been  questioned  respecting  that 
poor,  unhappy  man,  I  have  answered,  in  the  language  of  divine 
revelation,  God  has  not  appointed  me  to  be  his  judge.  He  is 
gone  to  his  own  place ;  I  know  not  where  that  is. 

It  is  not  true  that  I  ever  said  "  the  tares  were  punished  in 
their  principal,  the  Devil."  I  never  gave  any  other  exposition 
of  that  parable  than  our  divine  Master  gave  to  his  Disciples. 
I  never  taught  that  "sin  was  punished  distinct  from  an  agent ;  " 
indeed,  I  have  taught  that  our  ever  blessed  Saviour  suffered 
for  our  sins,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  to  bring  us  to  God ;  and 
for  this  I  am  reprobated  as  an  heretick.  But  if  this  be  heresy, 
I  dare  to  say  that  in  the  way  which  they  call  heresy,  worship 
I  the  God  of  my  fathers. 

Mr.  Chandler's  address  to  his  people,  respecting  me,  was 
both  unchristian,  ungentlemanlike  and  uncharitable,  and  gives 
us  a  melancholy  proof  of  the  weakness  of  human  nature.  But 
he  is  gone,  and,  I  humbly  hope,  has  found  mercy  with  Him  who 
is  exalted  as  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour  to  give  repentance  and 


l80  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

remission  of  sins.     But,  poor  man  !  he  laid  many  sayings  to  my 
charge  he  never  heard  from  me. 

How  very  disingenuous  and  ungenerous  what  follows !  You 
are  informed  the  town  was  illy  treated  by  me ;  that  they  sent 
for  me,  as  a  strange7%  to  make  inquiries  who  I  was,  etc.  But 
how  must  the  publick  be  astonished  when  (after  having  read 
this  account)  they  find  that  this  stranger  had  been  an  inhabit- 
ant of  the  town  from  the  year  1774;  that  he  was  invited  by 
some  of  the  first  characters  in  our  army  to  give  his  assistance 
as  a  Chaplain;  that  he  did  this  with  all  his  heart,  without  fee 
or  reward  save  the  satisfaction  he  found  from  the  approbation 
of  his  own  heart  and  the  honourable  friends  he  had  the  honour 
of  associating  with;  that  when  some  of  his  enemies  strove  to 
prejudice  the  Commander-in-Chief  against  him,  the  only  answer 
they  found  was  in  General  Orders,  where  his  Excellency  ap- 
pointed him  Chaplain  of  the  Rhode  Island  Regiments,  ordering 
that  he  maybe  treated  accordingly;  that  he  continued  labouring 
with  the  army,  in  this  character,  as  long  as  his  health  would 
admit ;  and  when  his  honourable  friend,  General  Greene,  in 
whose  family  he  had  the  honour  to  reside,  sent  him  home  to 
Glocester  sick,  on  his  recovery,  being  a  spectator  of  the  suffer- 
ings of  the  poor,  compassion  compelled  him  to  set  out,  late  in 
the  Fall,  with  a  subscription  paper,  in  order  to  raise  some  sup- 
port for  these  unhappy  sufferers ;  and  that  through  the  good- 
ness of  God,  and  the  generosity  of  his  honourable  friends,  his 
Excellency  at  the  head  of  them,  he  collected  a  very  large  sum 
of  money,  his  Excellency  subscribing  ^10,  each  of  the  Major 
Generals  ^5,  each  of  the  Brigadiers  ^3,  besides  generous  dona- 
tions from  many  other  respectable  characters,  in  and  out  of  the 
army,  each  subscriber  setting  down  the  sum  subscribed ;  that 
on  his  return  to  Glocester  he  called  the  Selectmen  together, 
made  them  count  the  money,  and  though  he  was  determined, 
as  a  trustee  for  the  generous  donors,  to  see  their  donations  dis- 
posed of  himself,  yet  he  never  let  any  person  receive  of  it  till 
ther  had  obtained  a  recommendation  from  some  one  or  other 
of  the  Selectmen;  that  having  laid  out  the  money  to  the  best 
advantage,  he  relieved,  at  sundry  times,  (to  the  best  of  his 
knowledge)  upwards  of  a  thousand  individuals,  who,  in  conse- 
quence of  this  very  providential  and  seasonable  support,  were 
enabled  to  get  through  the  worst  winter  they  ever  experienced 


APPENDIX.  lOl 

through  the  war ;  that  he  never  had  any  advantage  of  a  pecu- 
niary nature  for  himself,  but,  on  the  contrary,  was  thirty  dollars 
out  of  pocket,  happy  that  he  had  it  so  to  dispose  of;  that  soon 
after  this,  a  few  individuals  had  indeed  the  effrontery  to  treat 
him  as  they  inform  you  they  did  ;  and  that  Mr.  Lowell  wrote 
them  a  very  severe  letter  on  the  occasion,  setting  their  conduct 
before  them  in  its  true  light,  and  giving  them  to  understand 
that  if  they  did  not  make  him  satisfaction  for  the  injury  they 
had  done  him,  he  should  be  obliged  to  deal  with  them  as  the 
law  in  such  cases  directs.  How,  I  say,  must  the  publick  be 
astonished  to  find  this  is  the  stranger  they  speak  of,  who  has 
treated  the  town  so  very  ill!  And  yet  this  stranger  dares  any 
man  to  the  proof  of  his  ever  giving  the  town  any  treatment 
worse  than  this.  This  stranger,  as  they  are  pleased  to  call 
him,  is  very  happy  in  a  conscience  void  of  offence  toward  this, 
or  any  other  town.  He  is  happy  in  the  assurance  that  it  is  not 
in  the  power  of  his  worst  enemy  to  prove  that  he  has  ever 
injured  any  man,  in  his  person,  property  or  reputation,  except, 
indeed,  where,  in  defence  of  himself,  and  in  a  fair  and  candid 
manner,  he  has  been  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  exposing  the 
wickedness  of  any  of  his  inveterate  persecutors. 

Again  —  The  publick  will  be  very  much  surprised  when  they 
find  that  on  the  Rev.  Doctor  Stiles's  writing  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Forbes,  I  repeatedly  requested  a  copy  of  the  libel ;  and  not 
being  able  to  obtain  it,  I  set  out  for  Portsmouth.  I  there  de- 
manded a  meeting  with  the  Doctor,  insisting  on  his  either  prov- 
ing or  retracting  the  false  and  scandalous  reports  he  sent  his 
reverend  correspondent  in  that  letter;  but  though  under  the 
influence  of  prejudice,  that  bane  of  society,  he  was  able  to 
propagate  falsehoods,  yet  (to  his  honour  be  it  spoken)  he  had 
not  courage  enough  to  defend  them.  No  arguments  made  use 
of  by  his  best  friends  could  bring  him  to  my  face.  He  told 
them,  indeed,  that  he  was  sure  he  said  no  harm  of  me ;  and 
that  if  he  had  said  anything  to  my  disadvantage,  he  was  ready 
to  ask  my  pardon ;  that  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Forbes  in  confidence, 
not  expecting  that  I  would  ever  hear  of  it.  All  this,  and  much 
more  to  the  same  purpose,  can  be  attested  by  the  most  respect- 
able characters  who  waited  on  him  on  the  occasion. 

The  publick  will  be  astonished,  almost  as  much  as  I  was, 
when  they  find  the  story  the  Doctor  has  furnished  his  reverend 


1 82  UNI  VERBALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

friend  with,  respecting  my  treating  the  sacrament  irreverently, 
was  ten  years  ago  proved  to  him,  by  the  best  and  most  respect- 
able authorities,  a  gross  and  palpable  falsehood.  One  of  the 
Doctor's  best  friends,  a  Mr.  Belcher,  made  it  his  business  to 
inquire  into  the  affair ;  and  when  he  had  found  me  fully  justi- 
fied, on  the  respectable  authority  of  General  Greene,  a  letter 
from  the  present  Governor's  lady  of  Rhode  Island,  Mr.  Gordon, 
a  Minister  in  East  Greenwich,  and  General  Varnum,  who  were 
all  present  on  the  occasion  where  it  was  said  I  thus  burlesqued 
the  sacrament,  he  informed  Dr.  Stiles  of  it;  but  though  the 
Doctor  had  this  information,  he  still,  in  private,  to  help  a  good 
cause,  continued  to  propagate  the  lie.  And  many  years  after 
this,  when  he  wrote  it  to  Mr.  Forbes,  this  same  Mr.  Belcher, 
impelled  by  a  love  of  truth  and  justice,  wrote  a  letter  to  Mr. 
Forbes,  to  convince  him  of  the  falsehood  of  this  slander.  This 
letter  Mr.  Forbes  did  not  think  proper  to  publish  ;  a  copy  of 
it,  however,  can  be  produced  at  a  moment's  warning. 

But  the  limits  of  your  paper  will  not  admit  my  tracing  my 
calumniators  through  the  whole  of  the  dirty  path  they  have 
taken.  The  publick  may  form  some  judgment  of  the  credit 
which  ought  to  be  given  to  the  rest  of  their  vile  calumnies,  from 
the  specimen  now  laid  before  them ;  and  I  can  in  this  way  only 
declare  that  I  am  able  and  willing,  at  any  time,  when  properly 
called  on,  to  prove  the  rest  of  the  charges  they  have  exhibited 
equally  false  and  slanderous. 

When  we  ventured  to  lodge  our  Appeal  before  the  bar  of  the 
impartial  publick,  we  did  not  call  on  them  to  attend  the  sacrifice 
of  any  individual's  reputation;  we  made  use  of  no  personal 
invectives;  we  did  not  aim  at  poisoning  the  minds  of  our  fellow- 
citizens  with  prejudice,  imposing  on  them  by  vile  misrepresen- 
tations ;  we  were  prevented  from  thus  acting,  by  motives  which, 
we  trust,  will  always  have  weight  with  us,  (viz.)  the  fear  of  God, 
a  respect  for  the  publick,  and  a  regard  for  ourselves. 

On  our  giving  ourselves  the  character  of  Independent  Chris- 
tians, our  implacable  enemies  inhumanly  insinuate  a  charge  of 
treason  against  us.  Merciful  God,  defend  us  !  What  will  not 
an  inordinate  love  of  money  lead  some  of  the  fallen  race  to  do! 
O  !  if  these  good  men  could  but  obtain  a  law  to  erect  a  stake 
and  collect  faggots,  how  cheerfully  their  pious  souls  would  join 
in  doing  God  and  themselves  service  by  kilhng  us !     But  the 


APPENDIX.  1 83 

publick  will  not  be  imposed  on.  They  well  know  the  character, 
Independent,  among  the  religious,  is  not  an  unheard-of  name, 
and  that  all  we  intend  by  it  is,  that,  as  Christiatis,  we  know  no 
master  to  whom  we  look  for  aid  or  direction  in  spiritual  matters, 
but  Christ  Jesus.  It  is  well  known  to  be  an  article  of  our 
church,  that  we  will  alway  be  obediejit  subjects,  &c. 

The  same  bad  spirit  that  prompts  our  adversaries  to  do  all 
in  their  power  to  rob  us  of  the  privilege  of  citizens  and  subjects 
of  the  state,  has  led  them  to  aim  at  cutting  us  off  from  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven.  They  will  not  allow  us  to  be  a  church, 
nor  entitled  to  the  name  Christian.  They  are  afraid,  if  we  are 
allowed  the  character  of  Christians,  our  happy  Constitution 
will  save  us  from  their  power.  But  honest,  unprejudiced  men 
well  know  that  wherever  two  or  three  meet  together,  in  the 
name  of  Jesus,  he  is  with  them ;  and  this,  according  to  the  defi- 
nition of  their  own  Divines,  is  a  Church. 

They  say  we  have  brought  them  into  the  law.  Amazing! 
I  wonder  they  are  not  ashamed  to  impose  on  the  publick  in  so 
gross  a  manner.  They  took  the  people's  property,  and  by  that 
means  reduced  them  to  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  going  into 
the  law  for  redress.  When  a  Jury  of  faithful,  honest  men  gave 
a  verdict  in  our  favour,  they,  not  content  with  the  first  decision 
of  their  country,  demanded  a  review.  Our  people,  not  contend- 
ing for  damages,  but  for  their  constitutional  liberties,  were 
willing  to  set  down  with  their  liberties,  contented.  They  made 
this  proposal ;  it  was  rejected ;  we  7nust  follow  them  into  the 
thorny  maze  of  law  again.  We  therefore  took  the  liberty  to 
avail  ourselves  of  our  right ;  yet  they  complain  of  our  bringing 
them  into  the  law.  So  may  any  one  by  whom  you  are  robbed 
of  your  property,  complain  (when  you  have  brought  him  to 
justice)  that  you  have  drawn  him  into  the  law. 

These  good  people  complain  of  being  grieved  and  worried  by 
our  having  preachers  to  visit  us;  but  they  have  had  as  many 
visiting  teachers  as  we  have  had ;  yet  we  have  never  been  dis- 
tressed on  this  account ;  it  has  not  broke  our  peace,  though 
they  have  been  very  liberal  of  their  abuse  and  anathemas  on 
these  occasions.  We  were  not,  however,  obliged  to  hear  them, 
and  know  our  neighbors  had  a  right  to  hear  whoever  they 
pleased. 

I  pray  God  the  persecuted  and  slandered  may  have  patience 


184  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

to  bear,  and,  now  all   manner  of   evil  is  said  of  them   falsely, 
attend  to  their  character,  and  revile  not  again. 

On  the  whole,  it  is  plain  what  our  enemies  aim  at.  They 
hope  that  personal  abuse,  and  a  collection  of  infamous  false- 
hoods, will  so  far  operate  on  the  minds  of  the  Court  and  Jury, 
(under  God  the  only  defenders  of  our  natural  and  constitutional 
rights  and  liberties),  as  to  gain  a  verdict  in  their  favour.  And 
the  plain  intent  of  their  address  is  this  : 

"  Our  fellow-citize7is,  we  call  on  you  to  assist  us  in  rep- 
robating those  wicked  wjrtches,  ivho,  not  having  the  fear 
of  God,  will  not  quietly  part  with  their  property  to  us.  We 
desire  you  not  to  look  on  such  wretches  as  fellow-citizefis. 
God  hates  them,  we  hate  them,  and  we  hope  you  will  hate 
them.  We  are  holy,  righteous,  fust  and  good ;  they  are  the 
reverse  of  all  this.  We  are  God's  own  dear  children  ;  they 
are  children  of  the  Devil.  You  ought,  therefore,  to  believe 
all  we  say,  but  nothing  that  they  say.  We  have  a  light  to 
choose  our  own  teacher;  they  have  not.  No  law  ought  to 
oblige  us  to  support  any  other  than  we  hear ;  but  the  law 
ought  to  oblige  them  to  suppo?'t  the  Minister  they  do  not 
hear.  You  ought  to  give  us  their  money  for  nothing ;  and 
when  they  are  base  enough  to  refuse  to  part  with  it  freely ^ 
and  we  send  a  Constable  to  take  away  their  property,  you 
ought  never  to  afford  them  any  redress  ;  for  if  you  do  not 
oblige  theni  to  pay  our  teacher,  what  will  become  of  your 
colleges  I  your  pai'ishes  !  your  country  !  The  rising  gener- 
ation all,  all  will  go  to  destruction  if  you  do  not  oblige  them 
to  support  our  teacher.''' 

However,  had  these  gentlemen  confined  themselves  to  argu. 
ment,  and  endeavored  to  prove  that  a  Doctor  had  a  right  to 
demand  a  fee  from  another  Doctor's  patient,  a  Lawyer  from 
another  Lawyer's  client,  a  Minister  from  another  Minister's 
hearers,  the  press  was  free  — they  had  a  right  to  offer  their 
reasons;  but  when,  as  defenders  of  the  faith,  they  strive  by 
bitter  invectives  to  rob  us,  first  of  our  reputation,  in  order  to 
influence  a  jury  to  enable  them  to  rob  us  of  our  property,  and 


F0R3ES   CO. 


REV.     C  O  S  T  E  L  L  O     W  E  S  T  O  N , 
Eleventh  Pastor,  1879-1SS3. 


APPENDIX.  185 

thus,  in  a  pretended  zeal  for  piety  and  morality,  bear  false 
witness  against  their  neighbour,  surely  every  thinking,  unprej- 
udiced person  must  see  their  conduct  in  its  true  light,  and 
detest  it. 

Their  piece,  I  find,  is  pubHshed  by  a  number  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  first  parish  in  Glocester ;  and  it  is  but  common 
justice  to  inform  the  publick  that  there  are  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  that  parish  whose  honest  hearts  despise  and  detest  the 
base  conduct  of  their  mistaken  brethren  ;  there  are  many  very 
respectable  characters  in  that  parish  who  will  be  sufficiently 
mortified  on  account  of  the  conduct  of  their  brethren  in  this 
last  instance. 

Though  the  limits  of  my  time  and  your  paper  oblige  me  to 
pass  unnoticed  many  of  the  slanderous  invectives  thrown  out 
against  my  friends  and  myself,  in  the  publication  adverted  to, 
yet  if  in  future  it  is  thought  necessary,  a  full  refutation  of 
every  slander  in  this  piece  shall  be  given  to  the  publick  by  their 
and  your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

John  Murray. 


APPENDIX  J. 


THE  CHARTER  OF  COMPACT. 

"Whereas,  The  greatest  benefits  arise  to  a  Society  from 
assuming  a  form  best  suited  to  answer  the  purposes  of  its  de- 
sign; and  considering  the  necessity  there  is  of  speedily  taking 
such  salutary  measures  as  are  pointed  out  by  the  Constitution ; 
we,  therefore,  the  underwritten,  convinced  by  Reason  and 
prompted  by  inclination,  do  mutually  pledge  ourselves  each  to 
the  other,  and  enter  into  the  following 


1 86  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 


Charter  of  Compact. 

"  First.  That  there  shall  be  a  stated  annual  meeting  of  the 
subscribers  on  Christmas  Day,  except  when  it  happens  on  a 
Sunday,  in  that  case  to  be  on  the  day  following,  for  the  pur- 
poses of  choosing  a  Select  Committee,  whose  powers  shall  be 
as  hereafter  defined.  And  at  the  same  time  a  Secretary  shall 
be  chosen. 

"  Secondly.  That  Funds  shall  be  provided  by  voluntary  sub- 
scription, for  the  purposes  of  supporting  a  teacher  or  teachers, 
of  Piety,  Religion  and  Morality  ;  the  repairing  of  the  pub- 
lic edifice  ;  and  the  relief  of  poor  and  distressed  brethren. 

"  Thirdly.  The  powers  of  the  Select  Committee  are  to  be 
extended  to  calling  a  meeting  of  the  subscribers,  when  they  see 
proper,  or  on  the  request  of  nine  of  them ;  Notifications  to  be 
posted  up  at  least  nine  days  previous  to  the  meeting.  They 
shall  constitute  the  Treasury,  and  shall  distribute  the  monies 
lodged  in  their  hands  according  to  the  order  of  the  subscribers ; 
of  which  monies  they  shall  make  regular  report,  both  of  receipt 
and  distribution.  They  shall  have  power  to  admit  new  sub- 
scribers. 

"  Fourth.  The  Secretary  shall  record  the  transactions  of 
the  subscribers,  and  likewise  of  the  Select  Committee,  in  a  book 
open  to  the  inspection  of  any  one. 

"Fifth.  Persons  who  shall  subscribe,  and  not  pay  with 
punctuality,  shall  be  exempt  from  the  benefits  of  the  Compact, 
and  the  Select  Committee  shall  erase  their  names,  the  Com- 
mittee having  discretionary  power  to  remit  subscriptions  on 
reasonable  representation  made  to  them.  The  subscriptions 
are  to  be  paid  into  the  hands  of  the  Committee,  which  will  ren- 
der useless  the  office  of  a  Collector.  The  Committee  shall  give 
public  testimonial  of  payment,  on  its  being  made;  which  shall 
be  produced  at  the  general  annual  meeting. 

"  Sixth.  Subscriptions  shall  be  opened  at  the  general  annual 
meetings,  and  continued  at  those  periods,  unless  any  exigence 
should  require  them  to  be  more  frequent. 

"  Seventh.     All  subscribers  shall  have  an  equal  vote. 

"Eighth.  Questions  shall  be  decided  by  two-thirds  of  the 
present  members.     And  nine  shall  constitute  a  meeting. 

"  Ninth.     Whereas  the  priviledge  of  choosing  and  professing 


APPENDIX. 


187 


one's  own  Religion  is  inestimable :  And  in  order  to  maintain 
that  priviledge  unimpaired,  in  case  any  person  associating  with 
us  should  suffer  persecution  from  the  undue  exercise  of  power, 
we  do  agree  and  resolve  to  afford  him  all  legal  means  of  extri- 
cating him  from  difficulty,  and  of  enjoying  that  freedom  which 
is  held  forth  by  the  Constitution. 

*'  Tenth.  Subscribers  shall  be  at  liberty  to  withdraw  their 
names  from  this  Charter  at  the  annual  meeting. 

"Eleventh.  The  foregoing  shall  continue  permanent,  and 
shall  not  undergo  any  alteration  except  by  two-thirds  of  the 
subscribers.  The  absent  subscribers  shall  have  right,  in  this 
case,  to  vote  by  proxy.  Six  months'  notice  being  given  before 
any  alteration  can  take  place. 

"And  be  it  known   Universally,   That  we  who    have 
signed  our  names  to  this  Charter  of  Compact  for  the  pur- 
poses heretofore  cited,  compose  and  do  belong  to  the  Indepen- 
dent Christian  Society  of  Gloucester. 
Gloucester,  September  6th,  1785. 


Caleb  Pool, 
Joshua  Gammage, 
Francis  Norwood, 
Nath'l  Sargent, 
Joseph  Everden, 
Jeremiah  Foster, 
Downing  Lee, 
William  Doyle, 
Michael  Gaffney, 
Abraham  Row, 
Jonathan  Brown, 
Abraham  Brown, 
Stephen  Norwood, 
David  Pool, 
Nathan  Pool, 
John  Norwood, 
Caleb  Norwood,  Jr. 
Benjamin  Tarr,  Jr., 
Thomas  Babbit, 
Samuel  Morgan, 
Ephraim  Roberts, 
John  Gott, 
Ebenezer  Gott, 


Ebenezer  Pool, 
William  Hales, 
JoNa.  Low, 
Francis  Low, 
Caleb  Norwood, 
Isaac  Elwell, 
Sam'l  Sayward, 
Wm.  Murphy, 
Job  Knight, 
William  Pearce, 
John  Low,  third, 
Israel  Trask, 
Thomas  Mason, 
Jas.  Harris, 
Isaac  Trask, 
John  Allen, 
James  Blake, 
Thomas  Foster, 
Nathaniel  Bennett, 
David  Sargent, 
Abraham  Sawyer,  Jr. 
Joseph  Lufkin, 
Francis  Pool, 


UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 


Joseph  Baker, 
Joshua  Webster, 
James  Saunders, 
Gloster  Dalton, 
Wm.  Card, 

James  Sawyer,  third, 
CoAS  Gardner, 
Aaron  Lufkin, 
Samuel  Marshall, 
Samuel  Morhead, 
Wm.  Gee, 
Abraham  Sawyer, 

his 

Richard  (X)  Pew, 

11.  ark 

Joseph  Moore, 
David  Pearce, 
Joseph  Foster,  Jr., 
James  Babson, 
Peter  Dolliver, 
John  Pool, 


WiNTHROP  Sargent, 
Joseph  Foster, 
David  Plumer, 
Epes  Sargent, 
John  Somes, 
John  Stevens, 
John  Stevens  Ellery, 
Barnett  Harkin, 
W.  Wier, 

Philemon  Haskell, 
Job  Whipple, 
Jesse  Saville, 
Gideon  Challis, 
Benjamin  Lufkin, 
Humphrey  Morse, 
James  Steele, 
Jonathan  Trask, 
Joseph  Saunders, 
Samuel  Lane, 
BENjn.  Hale. 


These  were  all  men  of  good  repute,  and  some  of  them  were 
eminent  in  the  town.  Biographical  sketches  of  several  of  them 
are  given  in  Babson's  "  History  of  Gloucester."  One  humble 
colored  man,  the  only  one  of  his  race  whose  name  appears 
among  these  signers,  deserves  here  —  both  on  his  own  account, 
since  he  has  no  other  earthly  record,  and  also  as  showing  the 
sympathetic  company  in  which  he  found  himself  placed  by 
joining  the  Universalist  Society  — the  mention  made  by  Mr. 
Jones  in  recording  the  fact  of  his  death  and  burial : 

"April  nth,  1813,  Gloster  Dalton,  an  African.  In  this  coun- 
try from  a  youth.  Supposed  to  be  90  years  old,  or  upwards. 
The  said  Gloster  Dalton  was  an  honest,  industrious  man.  He 
had  been  infirm  about  two  or  three  years.  He  was  a  believer 
in  Jesus  Christ,  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  and  belonged  to  the 
independent  Christian  Society  many  years.  He  was  a  native 
of  Africa,  and  brought  away  as  a  slave  (so  called).  For  there 
are  no  slaves  !     All  men  are  born  free  !  !  ! 

T.  Jones." 


APPENDIX.  189 


APPENDIX  K. 


MRS.  JUDITH  MURRAY. 

Judith  Sargent  was  born  in  Gloucester,  May  5th,  175 1,  and 
was  the  oldest  of  eight  children  of  Winthrop  and  Judith  Sar- 
gent, nee  Saunders.  She  is  described  by  the  genealogist  of  her 
family  as  being  "  a  most  kind,  affectionate  and  excellent  lady." 
She  is  remembered  as  having  uncommon  beauty  of  person,  and 
a  superior  mind,  which  was  cultivated  and  enriched  by  the  best 
education  the  times  afforded  to  young  women.  She  was  mar- 
ried, October  3d,  1769,  to  John  Stevens,  also  a  native  of  Glou- 
cester, who,  after  an  unsuccessful  career  as  a  merchant  and 
trader,  became  bankrupt,  and  to  avoid  arrest  for  debt,  fled  in 
a  vessel  belonging  to  his  father-in-law,  to  St.  Eustatia,  in  1786, 
where  he  died.  Two  years  later,  his  widow  married  Mr.  Mur- 
ray. Their  union  was  an  exceedingly  happy  one.  She  became, 
soon  after  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Murray,  a  writer  for  the  "  Mas- 
sachusetts Magazine,"  contributing  prose  articles  over  the  sig- 
nature of  "  Constantia ;  "  and  furnished  poetry  for  the  "  Boston 
Weekly  Magazine,"  over,  the  signature  of  "Honora  Martesia.'' 
These  writings  gave  her  a  popularity  of  which  her  husband 
was  justly  proud.  She  was  as  proud  of  his  position  and  influ- 
ence ;  and  being  a  firm  believer  in  the  Rellyan  theology,  was 
very  impatient  of  any  advocacy  of  Universalism  that  was  not 
based  on  that  theory.  Hence  the  following  incident :  During 
Mr.  Murray's  temporary  absence  from  Boston,  on  one  occasion. 
Rev.  Hosea  Ballou  supplied  his  pulpit ;  and  on  the  last  Sunday 
of  his  engagement,  gave  his  views  of  i  Cor.  xv  :  26-28,  and 
interpreted  it  to  mean  that  the  Son  of  God  would  deliver  up 
the  mediatorial  kingdom  to  God,  when  he  had  brought  all 
things  into  subjection  to  himself,  and  God  should  then  be  all  in 
all.     Mrs.  Murray  —  who  believed,  as  did  her  husband,  that  the 


IQO  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Son  here  referred  to  was  the  "  Son  of  perdition,"  ~2  and  that 
God  was  to  succeed  in  getting  the  kingdom  out  of  his  hands  — 
called  a  neighbor  to  her  pew  before  the  services  were  concluded, 
and  despatched  him  to  the  singing-seats,  with  a  message  to  Mr. 
Balch,  one  of  the  singers,  who,  as  Mr.  Ballou  arose  to  announce 
the  closing  hymn,  stood  up  in  the  gallery  and  announced  as 
follows :  "  I  wish  to  give  notice  that  the  doctrine  which  has 
been  preached  here  this  afternoon  is  not  the  doctrine  which  is 
usually  preached  in  this  house."  "  The  audience  will  please  to 
take  notice  of  what  our  brother  has  said,'  was  the  calm  reply  of 
Mr.  Ballou. 

In  1795,  Mrs.  Murray  concluded  to  make  an  addition  to  the 
number  of  the  prose  articles  she  had  written  for  the  Magazine, 
and  to  publish  them  in  book  form.  *'  Till  very  lately,"  Mr. 
Murray  wrote  to  a  friend,  "  she  never  thought  of  turning  her 
labors  to  any  account  in  this  way ;  but  finding  out  that  nothing 
can  be  saved  out  of  my  support,  and  that  as  I  came  into  this 
world  a  considerable  time  before  her,  I  may  go  out  of  it  as 
much  before  her,  and  considering  she  has  a  little  daughter,  who, 
with  herself,  may  be  thrown  on  an  unfeeling  world,  without  the 
means  of  making  friends  of  the  Mammon  of  unrighteousness, 
I  have,  as  well  as  some  others  of  her  friends,  ventured  to  per- 
suade her  to  make  this  trial." 

The  work  appeared  in  duo-decimo  form,  in  1798,  and  bore 
this  title:  "The  Gleaner,  A  Miscellaneous  Production.  In 
Three  Volumes.  By  Constantia."  These  volumes  were  pub- 
lished by  subscription,  the  names  of  the  subscribers,  somewhat 
exceeding  eight  hundred,  appear  in  the  last  volume,  and  include 

'2  I  give  this  story  as  it  is  always  told,  but  am  confident  that  it  does  not  cor- 
rectly state  Mr.  Murray's  views,  whatever  may  have  been  the  belief  of  his  wife. 
Mr.  Murray's  interpretation  of  the  passage  is  as  follows: 

"  Then  shall  the  Son  also  himself  be  sjihject  unto  him  that  did  put  all  things 
under  him.  The  offspring  of  God,  the  human  family,  was  first  exhibited  in  the 
singular  character,  in  this  character  they  sinned,  and  in  this  character  they  must 
be  saved;  accordingly  we  are  admonished  to  have  a  single  eye. — Matthew  vi:  22. 
And  hence  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  head  of  every  man,  is  called  the  light  of  the  world, 
and  when  all  things  shall  be  snbdned  unto  him,  who  is  the  light  of  the  world,  then 
shall  the  Son  also,  who  was  made  subject  to  vanity,  be  subjected  to  vanity  no  more. 
Human  nature  in  the  aggregate  shall  be  brought  into  subjection  to  him,  who  is 
able  to  subdue  all  things  unto  himself;  until  that  period,  partial  reforms  may  take 
place,  but  the  day  of  retribution  will  be  the  day  of  final  s7il>jection."  Murray's 
Works,  Vol.  3,  p.  278. 


APPENDIX.  191 

some  of  the  most  notable  people  of  the  time.  The  Genealogist 
of  the  Sargent  Family  says,  that  Mr.  Murray,  "  as  an  itinerary 
preacher,  from  Georgia  to  Maine,  made  the  publication  profit- 
able, 'preaching  universal  salvation  and  universal  subscrip- 
tion ; ' "  a  statement  which  could  have  had  no  foundation  in 
fact,  as  Mr.  Murray  itinerated  but  little  after  moving  to  Boston, 
in  1793,  and  went  no  farther  south  than  Philadelphia;  nor  did 
he  visit  that  place  till  five  years  after  the  pubHcation  of  this 
work. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murray  were,  a  son,  who  died 
in  infancy;  a  daughter,  Julia  Maria,  born  in  Gloucester,  Aug. 
22,  1791,  married  in  1812,  to  Adam  Lewis  Bingaman,  and  died 
in  1822,  leaving  one  son,  named  for  his  father,  who  married  in 
New  York. 

Mrs.  Murray  died  at  Natchez,  Miss.,  June  6,  1820.  By  her 
will  she  left  Two  Hundred  Dollars  in  trust  to  Benjamin  K. 
Hough,  Esq.,  to  be  distributed  according  to  his  judgment,  "for 
the  benefit  of  the  needy  widows,  and  others  who  are  poor,  of 
my  native  place,  who  do  not  receive  their  chief  support  from 
the  Town."  There  were  157  recipients  of  this  gift,  of  whom  96 
were  widows. 


APPENDIX  L 


MR.  MURRAY'S  ORDINATION,  CHRISTMAS,  1788. 

The  original  account  of  Mr.  Murray's  Ordination,  December 
25th,  1788,  as  prepared  at  that  time  for  the  Society  Records, 

"  Last  Thursday  (being  Christmas  Day)  Mr.  Murray  was 
ordained  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Independent  Church  of 
Christ  in  Gloucester.  The  ceremony  of  his  Ordination  was 
conducted  in  a  solemn,  serious  and  Christian-like  manner.  The 
business  of  the  day  was  introduced  by  an  Anthem  suitable  to 
the  occasion.  Mr.  Murray  prayed,  and  after  singing,  the 
Church's  committee  (appointed  for  that  purpose)  introduced 


192  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

the  transactions  of  the  ordination  thus,  one  of  them  declaring  — 
"This  Independent  Church  of  Christ  having  years  past,  before 
the  Constitution  we  now  Uve  under  was  formed,  made  choice 
of  Mr.  John  Murray  for  our  Minister,  and  having  called  him, 
and  he  accepting  of  our  call,  we  then  ordained  and  did  set  him 
apart  to  the  office.  But  since  the  formation  of  our  Constitution, 
the  ordination  of  our  Minister  not  being  thought  sufficiently 
made  known,  we  now  proceed  in  this  publick  manner  to  declare 
the  Choice  of  this  Church,  their  call  of  Mr.  Murray,  his  accept- 
ance of  the  call,  with  the  resolve  of  the  Church  and  Congrega- 
tion respecting  this  pubhc  Ordination.  We,  therefore,  the 
Committee  appointed  by  the  Church  and  Congregation,  in  be- 
half thereof,  again  present  you  with  this  call,  to  Continue  to  be 
our  Minister." 
To  which  Mr.  Murray  replied : 

"  Persuaded  of  the  truth  of  the  declaration  made  by  the  com- 
pilers of  the  Shorter  Catechism,  '  That  God's  works  of  Provi- 
dence are  his  most  holy,  wise,  and  powerful,  preserving  and 
governing  all  his  creatures  and  all  their  actions ; '  and  from  a 
full  conviction  that  the  affairs  of  His  Church  are  in  an  especial 
manner  under  his  immediate  direction,  and  that  you,  my  Chris- 
tian friends  and  brethren,  are  now,  as  formerly,  under  the 
directing  influence  of  that  divine  spirit,  who,  'taking  of  the 
things  of  Jesus,  and  showing  them  unto  me,'  constrained  me  to 
become  a  preacher  of  the  Everlasting  Gospel,  and  directed  you 
to  set  me  apart,  or  ordain  me  to  be  your  Minister,  I  now 
again,  with  humble  gratitude  to  my  Divine  Master,  and  grate- 
ful affection  for  you,  my  long-tried,  faithful  Christian  Friends 
and  Brethren,  most  cordially  accept  of  this  call." 

One  of  the  Committee  ^"3  then  read  the  vote  of  the  Church: 
"Resolved,  that  we,  the  proprietors  of  the  Independent 
meeting-house  in  Gloucester,  the  members  of  the  church  and 
congregation  usually  attending  there  for  the  purpose  of  divine 
worship,  do,  by  virtue  of  that  power  vested  in  us  by  the  great 
High  Priest  of  our  profession,  the  Bishop  of  our  souls,  and  the 
great  and  only  Head  of  the  church  ;  and  according  to  the  insti- 
ls In  the  Society  Records,  preceding  this  account  of  the  Ordination,  is  the  follow- 
ing: "  At  a  meeting  of  the  Independent  Society  of  Christians  held  in  Gloucester: 

"  Voted,  that  Capt.  Winthrop   Sargent,  Mr.  David  Plummer  and  Barnett  Harkin 
be  a  committee  on  the  behalf  of  the  Church  and  congregation  to  transact  the  Cere- 
monies of  the  Ordination,  which  is  to  be  on  Christmas  day  next. 
"  Voted,  that  Barnett  Harkin  present  the  call  of  the  Church." 


APPENDIX.  193 

tutions  of  the  first  churches  in  New  England,  and  in  perfect 
conformity  to  the  third  article  of  the  declaration  of  rights,  in 
this  public  manner  solemnly  elect  and  ordain^  constitute  and 
appoint  Mr.  John  Murray,  of  said  Gloucester,  clerk,  to  be  our 
settled  minister,  pastor,  and  teaching  elder  ;  to  preach  the  word 
of  God,  and  to  inculcate  lessons  and  instructions  of  piety,  reli- 
gion and  morahty,  on  the  congregation;  and  to  do,  perform 
and  discharge  all  the  duties  and  offices  which  of  right  belong 
to  any  other  minister  of  the  gospel,  or  public  teacher  of  piety, 
religion  and  morality;  and  it  is  hereby  intended  and  under- 
stood, that  the  authority  and  rights  hereby  given  to  the  said 
Mr.  John  Murray,  to  be  our  settled  ordained  minister,  and 
public  teacher,  are  to  remain  in  full  force  so  long  as  he  shall 
continue  to  preach  the  word  of  God,  and  dispense  instructions 
of  piety,  religion  and  morality,  conformable  to  our  opinions, 
and  no  longer," 

The  committee  then  solemnly  presented  him  the  Bible,  say- 
ing on  its  presentation  :  "  We  present  you  these  Sacred  Scrip- 
tures as  a  solemn  seal  of  this  your  Ordination  to  the  ministry 
of  the  New  Testament,  and  the  sole  directory  of  your  faith  and 
practice." 

His  acceptance  was  affecting,  as  I  beheve  what  came  from 
the  heart  went  to  the  heart : 

"  With  my  full  heart  I  thank  our  merciful  God  for  this  ines- 
timable gift.  I  press  it  to  my  soul  with  grateful  transport ! 
I  take  it  as  the  copy  of  our  Father's  will,  as  the  decree  of  our 
incorruptible  inheritance,  as  the  unerring  guide  to  our  feet  and 
lantern  to  our  path.  Dear  precious  treasure  !  thou  hast  been 
my  constant  support  in  every  trying  hour,  and  a  never  failing 
source  of  true  consolation  ! 

"I  thank  you,  most  sincerely  I  thank  you,  my  Christian 
friends,  for  this  confirming  seal,  this  sure  directory ;  and  pray 
that  the  Spirit  who  dictated  these  sacred  pages  may  enable  me 
to  make  the  best  use  thereof." 

After  which  he  preached  a  suitable  sermon  from  Luke  x  :  2. 
The  words,  "  The  harvest  truly  is  great,  but  the  labourers  are 
few ;  pray  ye  therefore,  etc." 

The  solemnity,  attention,  and  Christian  demeanour  that 
attended  the  whole  of  the  transactions  of  Ordination,  and  every 
other  occurrence  of  the  day,  gave  universal  satisfaction  to  a 
numerous  audience." 


194  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 


APPENDIX  M. 


AGREEMENT  TO    BE    TAXED    FOR  SALARY  FOR 
MR.  MURRAY. 

Whereas  the  modes  heretofore  adopted  for  the  support  of 
pubhck  teaching  have  been  found  burdensome  and  inefficient ; 
and  for  the  more  fully  carrying  into  execution  the  design  of  the 
Law,  which  enjoins  the  maintenance  of  Publick  Worship,  for 
the  promotion  of  Piety,  Religion,  and  Morality;  and  that  the 
great  ends  of  the  Society  may  be  answered  in  the  best  manner, 
the  expense  of  the  same  equally  borne,  and  proper  and  certain 
provision  made  for  the  Publick  Teacher;  In  obedience  to  the 
law  and  to  fulfill  so  pious  and  laudable  a  purpose,  we  whose 
names  are  underwritten,  members  of  the  Christian  Independent 
Society  of  Gloucester,  do  agree  and  oblige  ourselves,  each  for 
himself,  to  pay  our  parts  of  One  Hundred  Pounds  a  year,  for 
the  support  of  our  dear  brother  in  God,  and  Christian  Teacher, 
John  Murray,  as  long  as  he  shall  continue  to  minister  unto,  and 
we  to  hear  him.  Which  sum  we  agree  shall  be  paid  by  us  in 
such  a  proportion  as  we  pay  in  the  Town  or  State  tax  the  year 
immediately  preceding  the  one  the  money  we  agree  shall  be 
raised  for  the  aforesaid  purpose ;  which  Town  or  State  Assess- 
ment shall  be  a  Rule  to  govern  us  for  the  assessment  of  the 
aforesaid  sum  of  One  Hundred  Pounds.  And  we  further  cove- 
nant and  agree  that  the  aforesaid  sum  of  One  Hundred  Pounds 
shall  be  paid  into  the  hands  of  certain  persons  as  shall  volun- 
tarily become  sureties  for  the  said  sum  to  the  said  John  Murray, 
whose  names  shall  be  hereafter  annexed.  In  witness  whereof 
we  have  hereunto  affixed  our  hands  this  ninth  day  of  Septem- 
ber, One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-eight. 

David  Plumer,  Winthrop  Sargent,  Epes  Sargent,  Philemon 
Haskell,  Joseph  Foster,  John  Somes,  Nathaniel  Sargent,  Wil- 
liam Murphy,  John  Stevens  Ellery,  Winthrop  Allen,  William 
Dolliver,  Thomas  Foster,  Joseph  Foster,  jr.,  Francis  Low,  John 
Low,  3d,  John  Osborne  Sargent,  Joseph  Herrick,  Isaac  Elwell, 


APPENDIX.  195 

Barnett  Harkin,  William  Pearce,  William  Hales,  Jonathan 
Trask,  James  Saunders,  Robert  Watson,  Jonathan  Low,  Wil- 
liam Pew,  Humphrey  Morse,  Christr-  Minot,  Ebenr-  Hough, 
John  Allen,  Jonathan  Brown,  Ephraim  Brown,  Wm.  Gee, 
Aaron  Lufkin,  Samuel  Lufkin,  Solomon  Babson,  Benjamin  Tar- 
box,  Benjamin  Lufkin,  Thomas  Mason,  James  Sawyer,  3d 
Abram  Sawyer,  jr.,  Gideon  Challis,  James  Blake,  James  Steele, 
Benjn.  K.  Hough,  Daniel  Trew,  Samuel  Morhead,  Coas  Gard- 
ner, Abraham  Sawyer,  Jeremiah  Foster,  Joseph  Everden,  Sam- 
uel Lane,  Stephen  Brown,  Thomas  Babbitt,  David  Sargent, 
Caleb  Pool,  Caleb  Norwood,  Francis  Pool,  Ebenezer  Pool, 
William  Card,  Benjamin  Hale,  David  Pool,  William  Tarr  An- 
drews, Nathan  Pool,  Joseph  Procter,  William  Hutchins,  Thomas 
Moore,  Joseph  Saunders,  Caleb  Norwood,  jr.,  John  Norwood, 
Benjamin  Tarr,  jr.,  Joseph  Lufkin,  jr.,  Thomas  Oakes,  Sam'l 
Morgan,  Stephen  Norwood. 


APPENDIX  N. 


THE  REQUEST  FROM  BOSTON. 

It  was  not  an  unusual  thing  in  the  early  days  for  such  re- 
quests to  be  made.  Rev.  Adams  Streeter,  to  whom  allusion  is 
made  in  the  following  letter,  had  been  released  from  Providence 
to  preach  more  frequently  in  Boston  ;  and  as  peculiar  circum- 
stances seemed  to  demand  help,  it  was  often  asked,  and  as 
often  granted. 

Boston,  Deer-  8,  1786. 

Brethren:  — Since  the  death  of  our  worthy  Teacher,  Mr. 
Streeter,  7i  who  statedly  visited  us  once  a  month,  we  are  left 
destitute  excepting  when  Mr.  Murray  is  with  us  ;  and  as  a  wide 
Door  is  opened  for  his  preaching  the  Gospel  to  a  very  great 
congregation  among  us,  we  wish  your   consent  that   he  might 

'4  See  Appendix  E. 


196  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

visit  us  one  Lord's  Day  in  three,  untill  He  who  received  Gifts 
for  Men,  even  for  the  Rebellious,  is  pleased  to  bestow  one  upon 
us,  when,  perhaps  by  their  changing,  neither  of  us  may  be  left 
destitute. 

"  We  are  endeavouring  to  look  out  for  such  a  Blessing,  and 
are  encouraged  the  more  to  prefer  our  request  to  you  from  that 
paragraph  in  your  Association :  "  And  as  it  hath  pleased  God 
to  open  a  great  and  effectual  Door  for  the  preaching  of  his 
Gospel  by  this  his  servant  in  sundry  parts  of  this  great  Conti- 
nent; whenever  it  shall  please  his  and  our  Divine  Master  to 
call  him  to  preach  the  Gospel  elsewhere,  we  wish  him  God- 
speed, and  pray  that  the  good  will  of  Him  that  dwelt  in  the 
Bush  may  accompany  him  and  make  his  way  clear  before  him." 
To  which  we  add  our  Amen.  May  the  Peace  and  glad  tidings 
published  by  the  Gospel  have  their  influence  upon  us  in  pro- 
moting a  Conversation  becoming  the  same,  expressed  in  Praise 
and  Thanksgiving  to  Him  that  Loved  us,  and  in  Love  one  to 
another,  and  towards  all  Men. 

Shippie  Townsend,  ~] 
James  Prentiss,        |     Committee 
JosiAH  Snelling,       )>  in  behalf    of 
John  Page,  |'    the  Society. 

JONa-  StODDET,  J 

To  Mr-  Plummer 
to  be  communicated  to 
the  society  of  Christian 
Independents  in 

Glocester. 

After  Rev.  George  Richards  had  concluded  to  visit  New 
York  and  Philadelphia,  in  1806,  a  request  for  the  services  of 
Rev.  Thomas  Jones  was  sent  to  Gloucester,  and  a  favorable 
response  was  returned. 

Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  August  4,  1806. 

The  Wardens  and  Brethren  of  the  Universal  Society,  Ports- 
mouth, to  their  Brethren  of  the  Christian  Independent  Church 
in  Gloucester,  Cape  Ann  : 

Dearly  Beloved  :  —  The  expected  absence  of  Brother  Rich- 
ards leads  us  to  ask  it  as  a  favour,  that  you  will  indulge  us  with 


APPENDIX,  197 

the  gifts  of  Brother  Thomas  Jones,  for  the  two  first  Sabbaths 
in  the  month  of  September  j  and  as  Brother  Richards  has  been 
attentive  to  your  wants,  when  destitute  of  a  preacher,  by  en- 
deavoring to  supply,  we  feel  a  sort  of  boldness  in  making  this 
request;  and  being  informed  that  Brother  Jones  has  a  wish  to 
visit  his  Portsmouth  friends,  we  also  have  a  wish  that  he  may 
be  gratified  and  thereby  edify  us.  Should  you  ever  have  need, 
we  will  cheerfully  repay  the  obligation  by  a  like  act  of  brotherly 
kindness.  Please  to  return  us  your  answer  by  the  12th  of  the 
Month,  if  possible,  as  Brother  Richards  leaves  the  last  week  in 
August. 

In  the  name  and  by  request  of  the  Wardens  and  Society  at 
Portsmouth, 

George  Richards,  Minister. 

Another  peculiarity  of  the  early  day  was  the  voting  of  an 
annual  appropriation  for  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  pastor 
in  making  exchanges.  Among  Mr.  Jones'  memoranda  I  find 
the  following  items  : 

"1809,  August.  A  Letter  was  received  from  the  Boston 
Society,  wishing  a  change  between  the  Ministers  in  union,  as 
often  as  convenient;  and  it  was  concluded  that  a  small  sum 
should  be  appropriated  out  of  the  common  treasury  to  defray 
this  expense." 

"  May  17,  1810.  It  was  voted  at  the  last  Annual  Meeting  that 
there  should  be  a  sum,  not  exceeding  Twenty  Dollars,  appro- 
priated to  pay  the  Expenses  of  Exchange  of  the  Minister. 
That  is  to  say,  to  pay  the  Stage  hire  of  the  Pastor  out  and 
home,  when  he  shall  exchange  with  any  of  the  Ministers  in  the 
same  Connection  of  Friendship  and  Doctrine  of  Universal 
Grace." 

This  custom  continued  for  thirty  years,  the  annual  appropri- 
ations varying  from  the  sum  named  above  to  Seventy-five 
dollars. 

In  1813,  the  Society  voted  their  Minister  a  vacation  of  four 
Sundays;  and  continued  it  in  subsequent  annual  arrangements, 
several  years. 


198  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 


APPENDIX  O. 


THE  ACT  OF  INCORPORATION. 

"  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  One  thousand  seven  hundred  and 

ninety-two. 

"An  Act  to  incorporate  certain  persons  by  the  name  of  the 
Independent  Christian  Church  in  Gloucester. 

"  Whereas  sundry  persons,  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Glou- 
cester, have  for  several  years  past  associated  for  the  purpose 
of  Public  Worship,  and  have  at  their  own  expense  supported 
a  public  teacher  in  preaching  the  Gospel  upon  principles  most 
agreeable  to  the  dictates  of  their  own  consciences ;  and  have 
petitioned  this  Court  to  be  incorporated,  that  they  may  be  bet- 
ter enabled  to  conduct  their  parochial  affairs  with  ease  and 
regularity : 

"  Be  it  Enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same, 
that  David  Pearce,  Winthrop  Sargent,  Joseph  Foster,  Epes 
Sargent,  John  Somes,  David  Plumer,  Barnet  Harkin,  John 
Low,  3d,  William  Pearce,  Isaac  Elwell,  James  Sawyer,  Abra- 
ham Sawyer,  jr.,  William  Gee,  Abraham  Sawyer,  Francis  Low, 
Joseph  Herrick,  Lemuel  Gates,  William  Card,  Francis  Norwood, 
Benjamin  Hale,  Daniel  Marchant,  jr.,  Aaron  Sargent,  Samuel 
Wonson,  jr.,  Caleb  Pool,  John  Stevens  Ellery,  Benjamin  Luf- 
kin,  Benjamin  K.  Hough,  William  Murphy,  Jonathan  Low, 
Benjamin  Tarbox,  Henry  Phelps,  Moses  Fitz,  Thomas  Foster, 
Joseph  Procter,  Solomon  Babson,  Daniel  E.  Procter,  Aaron 
Hall,  Joseph  Allen,  jr.,  Winthrop  Allen,  John  Allen,  David 
Sargent,  William  Baty,  Caleb  Norwood,  Joseph  Baker,  John 
Gott,  Ebenezer  Gott,  Samuel  Wonson,  Benjamin  Marshall, 
Ebenezer  Pool,  John  Norwood,  Nathan  Pool,  together  with  all 
those  who  are,  and  those  who  shall  become  members  of  the 


APPENDIX.  199 

same  Church,  or  being  of  the  same  religious  denomination  shall 
unite  with  them  in  the  same  place  of  Worship,  within  said  town 
of  Gloucester,  together  with  their  several  Estates,  lying  within 
said  Town  be,  and  they  hereby  are  set  apart  and  incorporated 
into  a  Society  by  the  name  of  '  The  Independent  Christian 
Church  in  Gloucester,'  and  by  that  name  may  sue  and  be  sued, 
plead  and  be  impleaded,  defend  and  be  defended,  in  any  Court 
or  place  whatever. 

"  And  be  it  further  Enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that 
the  Members  of  said  Incorporation  at  any  meeting  of  the  So- 
ciety, shall  have  a  right  by  a  majority  of  votes  to  ordain  and 
establish  all  such  rules  and  regulations  and  to  appoint  such 
Officers  for  the  government  of  said  Society  as  shall  not  be 
repugnant  to  the  Laws  and  Constitution  of  the  Commonwealth, 
and  at  such  meetings  to  vote  such  taxes,  and  make  such  assess- 
ments thereof  as  shall  be  necessary  for  the  support  of  said 
Church,  and  the  public  teacher  thereof. 

"  And  be  it  further  Enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that 
all  male  persons  who  usually  assemble  with  the  aforesaid 
Church  and  congregation  for  public  worship,  being  of  the  same 
religious  denomination  and  qualified  by  Law  to  vote  in  Town 
affairs,  shall  have  a  right  to  vote  in  all  meetings  in  said  Society. 

"And  be  it  further  Enacted,  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that 
any  five  of  the  petitioners  or  other  persons  usually  assembling 
with  said  Church  and  congregation  may  call  a  first  meeting  of 
said  Society,  at  such  time  and  such  place  within  said  town  of 
Gloucester  as  they  shall  see  fit,  at  which  meeting  the  method 
of  calling  their  future  meetings  shall  be  determined  conform- 
ably to  the  Laws  of  the  Commonwealth. 

"And  be  it  further  Enacted,  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that 
the  petitioners  and  all  others  their  associates  in  said  Church 
and  Congregation,  and  their  several  Estates,  lying  in  said  Town 
of  Gloucester,  shall  not  be  liable  to  any  tax  or  assessment  for 
the  support  of  any  other  public  teacher  of  Piety,  Religion  or 
Morality  of  whatever  religious  sect  or  denomination,  but  are 
hereby  declared  to  be  exempt  therefrom. 

"  And  be  it  further  Enacted,  that  all  those  who  hereafter  shall 
be  desirous  of  becoming  members  of  said  Church  or  Society, 
being  inhabitants  of  said  Town,  shall  leave  their  names  with 
the  Town  Clerk  of  said  Town,  twenty  days  at  least  previous  to 


200  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

the  annual  Meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of   said   Town   in   the 
month  of  March  or  April,  otherwise  they  shall  not  be  consid- 
ered in  law  as  members  of  said  Church  or  Society. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives,  June  26th,  1792. 
This    Bill   having  had  two   several   readings,   passed   to   be 
Enacted. 

Sam'l  Phillips,  Presd't. 
By  the  Governor  approved,  June  28th,  1792. 

John  Hancock." 


APPENDIX  P. 


MR.  MURRAY'S    COMMENDATION    OF    MR.   JONES. 

To  Col.  William  Pearce. 

Boston,  August  23, 1803. 
Mr  very  dear  Friend:  —  I  beg  leave  to  introduce  to  your 
kind  notice  our  Brother,  our  Father's  child,  and  the  child  of 
affliction.  You  recollect  all  I  have  told  you  of  this  dear  faith- 
ful man,  his  sufferings  and  their  causes,  since  he  has  been  in 
this  country.  His  school,  which  is  his  support,  is  now  in  vaca- 
tion. He  had  six  weeks' respite  from  toil;  he  ventured  to  set 
out  on  a  visit  to  God's  children,  my  Friends.  He  came  unex- 
pected to  me.  I  wrote  him,  indeed,  should  the  Fever  be  in  his 
city,  to  leave  it  and  come  this  way,  and  see  what  the  Great 
Master  may  do  for  him.  I  requested  him,  in  that  case,  to  stop 
in  New  York  and  sundry  other  places.  He  never  received  my 
letter;  he  could  not  stop  at  N.  Y.,  the  Fever  had  shut  it  up. 
He  came  on  here  ;  he  knew  no  one  till  he  came  here,  and  here 
only  your  humble  servant.  He  preached  in  our  House  all 
Sunday.  There  never  were  two  better  sermons  delivered  in 
that  pulpit;  he  gave  universal  satisfaction.  He  is  anxious  to 
see  the  place  where  the  first  House  in  this  Country  was  built 


REV.    WILLIAM     H  .     R  I  D  ]U<  ^ 
Twelfth  Pastor,  1883. 


APPENDIX.  201 

for  the  reception  of  Paul's  Gospel,  or  rather,  God's  everlasting 
Gospel  embraced  and  preached  by  Paul.  He  has  not  much 
time  to  spare,  but  he  will  devote  one  week  to  my  Gloucester 
Friends.  /  write  to  you^  my  feeling  Brother^  as  a  lover  of  the 
Truth,  as  ojie  blest  by  our  cointnon  Parent  with  a  feeling 
heart,  and  the  means  to  gratify  it,  by  reaching  forth  the  help- 
ing hand  to  as  deserving  a  Brother  as  ever  our  Saviour  gave 
you  an  opportunity  of  assisting.  I  write  to  you  humbly  request- 
ing you  to  use  your  influence  with  your  Brethren,  your  Friends, 
your  neighbours,  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  relieve,  and  thus 
comfort  the  heart  of  this  dear  suffering  Friend,  who  would  not 
have  suffered  so  much  if  he  was  less  worthy.  He  is  a  timid, 
modest  man,  he  is  not  fond  of  complaining,  and  so  I  am  the 
more  solicitous  to  lead  the  attention  of  you,  and  my  other 
Friends  of  long  standing,  to  this  dear  suffering  man.  I  do  not 
know  a  man  in  his  character  in  this  world  that  has  suffered  so 
much  ;  yet  the  dear  man  has,  with  his  little  family,  suffered  in 
silence,  and  now  he  knov/s  not  that  his  Divine  Master  is  using 
me  as  an  humble  instrument  to  introduce  him  to  the  notice  of 
Friends  so  well  able,  and  I  am  persuaded,  so  willing  to  help 
him.  Will  you,  my  dear  Brother,  I  am  sure  you  will,  have  the 
goodness  to  show  this  letter  to  our  mutual  Friends  ?  Will  you 
be  so  obliging  as  to  present  my  regards  to  your  Brother,  to 
Captn-  Elwell,  to  Capt"-  Somes,  to  Captn-  Beach,  and  to  request 
their  attention  to  this  letter.  I  am  sure  they  all  have  feeling 
hearts.  Of  his  Preaching  I  will  say  nothing,  except  to  request 
of  you  to  give  him  a  chance  of  preaching  as  often  as  you  can 
for  the  time  he  is  in  Gloucester.  He  cannot  tarry  longer  than 
till  next  Monday.  He  may  preach  one  Lecture,  at  least,  before 
Sunday,  to  give  the  people  a  chance  of  knowing  him,  and  ex- 
pecting him  on  Sunday.  I  commend  him  to  the  good-will  of 
Him  that  dwelt  in  the  Bush,  and  to  the  kind  notices  of  those 
that  the  God  of  my  life  made  use  of  to  comfort  and  support  me 
when  I  was  a  stranger  amongst  you.  Love  to  each  of  your 
dear  Family.     Believe  me  ever  Yours,  &c., 

J.  Murray. 


202 


UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 


APPENDIX  Q. 

SUBSCRIBERS  TO  THE  NEW  MEETING-HOUSE. 
The  following  are  the   names   of  the  subscribers,   with   the 
number  of  shares  taken  by  each : 


William  Pearce 15 

John  Somes 13 

Israel  Trask 4 

Joseph    Foster 3 

William  Dolliver i 

Isaac  Elwell 2 

William  Pearce,  jr 4 

Abraham   Sawyer,  jr 3 

Samuel   Calder 3 

Benjamin  K.  Hough 3 

John  Johnston 2 

David  Haraden,  jr 

William  Saville 

James  Mansfield 

John  Dennis 

John   Close 

Joseph  Procter 

Jonathan  Dodge 

Stephen  Brown 

Eben  Plumer 

Joseph    Everden 

Daniel  E.  Procter 

John  Somes,  jr 

John  Mason 

William    Rogers 

Eli  Stacy 


Cyrus  Stevens 

David  P.  Tarr 

Fitz  W.  Sargent 2 

Isaac  Elwell,  jr 

Jonathan  Low 2 

William  Dexter 

John  Low 

Sally  Tarbox 

Jacob  Smith 

David  Haraden 

Andrew  Mackay 

Jacob  Hodgkins 

James  Tappan 

Abraham  Williams. . . . 

Mary  Plumer 

James  S.  Sayward. . . . 

John  Somes,  3d 

Henry  Sayward 

James  Patrick 

Daniel  Rogers,  jr 

Joseph  Moore 

Michael  Gaffney 

David  Babson 

Joseph  Baker 

Jonathan  Brown,  3d. . . 
John  Stacy 


Total K 


APPENDIX. 


203 


APPENDIX  R, 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER  STONE. 
The  following  is  copied  from  the  Records  of  Tyrian  Lodge : 
"At  a  Meeting  of  the  Master,  Wardens  and  Brethren  of 
Tyrian  Lodge  held  at  B'r  Jonathan  Lowe's,  Sept.  5,  5805,  at 
the  special  request  of  the  Committee  for  superintending  the 
Building  of  a  New  meeting  house  for  the  Christian  Indepen- 
dent Society  in  Gloucester —  to  assist  in  Laying  the  Corner 
Stone  of  said  building, 


Present 

: 

R.  W. 

Bro.  John  Tucker, 

Bro.  Benj.  K.  Hough, 

S.  W. 

" 

Ebed  Lincoln, 

"     Joseph  Foster, 

J.W. 

" 

Wm.  Pearce,  Jr., 

"     Isaac  Elwell, 

P.  M. 

" 

Nathl-  Warner, 

"     Jonathan  Lowe, 

S. 

u 

Wm.  Pearce, 

"     Benj.  Tarr,  4th, 

(( 

Zenas  Gushing, 

"     Robert  Tarr, 

a 

Eben  H.  Collins, 

"     EH  Stacy, 

u 

Zach.  Stevens, 

"     Charles  Rogers, 

Wm.  Rogers, 
Wm.  Presson,  Jr., 

"     John  Rogers,  Sec'y- 

u 

Wm.  Dolliver, 

Visitors. 

u 

Joseph  Babson, 

Rev.  Bro.  Thomas  Jones, 

u 

Joshua  Woodberry, 

"     John  R.  Hubbard, 

u 

Elias  Davis, 

"     Benj.  Dodge, 

(( 

Daniel  Collins, 

"     Wm.  Person, 

a 

Saml-  Robinson, 

"    Jesse  Wilson, 

» 

Wm.  Kingman, 

"    Jacob  Smith, 

u 

Josiah  Herrick, 

"     Joseph  Henderson, 

(C 

Daniel  Rogers,  Jr., 

"     Nathan  Park. 

"  The  Lodge  being  opened  in  due  form,  the  Procession  was 
formed  and  went  through  Middle  street  to  the  appointed  place, 
and  placed  the  Corner  Stone  in  Masonic  Form,  after  which 
Rev.  Bro.  Thomas  Jones  made  a  pertinent  and  well-adapted 
prayer  suited  to  the  occasion.     The  Brethren  then  proceeded  to 


204  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Bro.  Wm-  Pearce's,  and  partook  of  a  cold  collation.  Being 
agreeably  refreshed,  they  returned  to  the  Lodge-room  when  the 
Lodge  was  closed  in  usual  Form." 

On  the  removal  of  the  Corner  Stone,  July  20th,  1868,  in 
making  extensive  alterations  and  repairs,  the  following  was 
found  in  a  sealed  box  in  the  cavity :  a  Twenty  Dollar  Gold 
piece  coined  in  1799,  a  cent  of  the  coinage  of  1803,  and  a  parch- 
ment bearing  this  inscription,  in  the  handwriting  of  William 
Saville,  Esq.,  Clerk  of  the  Society.  "Anno  Lucis  5805.  On 
the  fifth  day  of  September,  in  the  29th  year  of  American  Inde- 
pendence, A.  D.  1805,  this  corner  stone  of  the  first  established 
Independent  Christian  Church  in  North  America,  was  laid  by 
the  Officers  and  Brethren  of  the  Tyrian  Lodge  of  Gloucester." 

The  stone  was  re-laid  August  3d,  1868,  its  former  contents 
replaced,  and  in  addition  thereto,  several  other  articles,  accom- 
panied by  a  parchment  prepared  by  John  Corliss,  Esq.,  Clerk 
of  the  Society,  containing  a  brief  statement  of  the  history  of 
the  Society. 


APPENDIX  S. 


THE  NEW  HYMN  BOOK. 

Very  few  of  the  Hymns  in  Kelly's  Collection  can  be  sung,  the 
metre  is  so  irregular;  and  it  is  quite  surprising  that  the  Con- 
gregation should  have  been  contented  with  it  so  long.  The 
Book  which  the  Society  published  bore  the  following  title : 
"  Psalms,  Hymns,  and  Spiritual  Songs  ;  Selected  and  designed 
for  the  use  of  the  Independent  Christian  Church  of  Gloucester. 
Behold,  God  is  my  salvation.  I  will  trust  and  not  be  afraid, 
for  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  my  strength  and  my  song;  he  also  is 
become  my  Salvation. — Isaiah.  Boston,  1808."  It  was  a 
i2mo.  of  252  pp.,  containing  305  Hymns,  and  was  prefaced  with 
the  following:  "To  the  Members  of  the  Independent  Univer- 
sal   Christian    Church   and    Society   of    Gloucester.     Brethren, 


APPENDIX.  205 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  entrusted  the  care  of  selecting  a 
suitable  number  of  Hymns,  adapted  to  the  public  worship  of 
God,  for  the  use  of  the  Independent  Universal  Christian  Church 
in  Gloucester,  having  to  their  best  abilities  performed  the 
work  committed  to  their  hands,  beg  leave  to  present  the  follow- 
ing collection  to  the  said  Church  and  Society,  humbly  hoping 
that  it  may  in  some  measure  contribute  to  raise  our  devotion  to 
the  fountain  of  all  good. 

"  They  have  been  careful  in  omitting  all  hymns  of  a  contro- 
versial nature,  and  have  generally  selected  only  those  calcu- 
lated to  inspire  the  mind  with  sentiments  of  adoration,  grati- 
tude, and  love  to  Him  who  first  loved  us. 

"  As  the  hymns  are  not  original,  they  have  been  peculiarly 
mindful  not  to  mutilate  their  genuine  sense  by  the  omission  or 
addition  of  any  word  or  verses,  which  would,  if  practised,  leave 
room  to  incorporate  or  withhold  sentiments  injurious  to  the 
true  spirit  and  meaning  of  their  several  authors. 

"  Gloucester  (Mass.),  March  25,  1808." 

The  compilers  must  have  changed  their  minds  after  writing 
the  last  sentence  in  their  report,  since  just  one-half  of  the 
hymns  from  Relly's  collection  are  greatly  abridged. 


APPENDIX  T. 


DEDICATION  OF  CHILDREN. 

The  following  is  Mr.  Murray's  account  of  the  origin  of  this 
ceremony : 

"You  ask  an  account  of  the  ceremony  I  have  originated, 
instead  of  infant  sprinkling.  On  my  first  appearance  in  this 
country,  during  my  residence  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  I  was 
requested,  as  the  phrase  is,  to  christen  the  children  of  my 
hearers.     I  asked  them  what  was  their  design  in  making  such 


206  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

a  proposal  to  me.  They  replied,  they  only  wished  to  do  their 
duty.  'How,  my  friends,'  returned  I,  'came  you  to  believe 
infant  sprinkling  a  duty  ? '  '  Why,  is  it  not  a  command  of  God 
to  sprinkle  infants  ? '  'If  you  will,  from  Scripture  authority, 
produce  any  warrant  sufficient  to  authorize  me  to  baptize  chil- 
dren, I  will  immediately,  as  in  duty  bound,  submit  thereto. 
Our  Saviour  sprinkled  no  infant  with  water;  those  who  were 
baptized  by  his  harbinger  plunged  into  the  River  Jordan,  which 
plunging  was  figurative  of  the  ablution  by  which  we  are 
cleansed  in  the  blood  of  our  Saviour;  but  infants  are  not 
plunged  in  a  river. 

" '  Paul  declares  he  was  not  sent  to  baptize,  and  he  thanks 
God  that  he  had  baptized  so  few ;  nor  does  it  appear  that 
among  those  few  there  were  any  infants.  It  is  not  a  solitary 
instance  to  find  a  whole  household  without  a  babe.  The 
eunuch  conceived  it  necessary  there  should  be  much  water  for 
the  performance  of  the  rite  of  baptism  ;  all  this  seems  to  pre- 
clude the  idea  of  sprinkling  and  of  infant  baptism,  and  it  is 
said  that  whole  centuries  passed  by,  after  the  commencement 
of  the  Christian  era,  before  the  sprinkling  of  a  single  infant. 
I  am,  however,  commencing  a  long  journey ;  many  months  will 
elapse  before  my  return.  I  pray  you  to  search  the  Scriptures 
during  my  absence,  and  if,  when  we  meet  again,  you  can  point 
out  the  chapter  and  verse  wherein  my  God  has  commanded  his 
ministers  to  sprinkle  infants,  I  will  immediately  prepare  myself 
to  yield  an  unhesitating  obedience.'  I  pursued  my  journey.  I 
returned  to  New  Jersey,  then  my  home,  but  no  authority  could 
be  produced  from  the  sacred  writings  for  infant  sprinkling. 
Still,  however,  religious  parents  were  uneasy,  and  piously 
anxious  to  give  testimony,  public  testimony,  of  their  reliance 
upon  and  confidence  in  the  God  of  their  salvation.  Many,  per- 
haps, were  influenced  by  the  fashion  of  this  world ;  but  some, 
I  trust,  by  considerations  of  a  higher  origin. 

"  I  united  with  my  friends  in  acknowledging  that  when  God 
had  blessed  them  by  putting  into  their  hands  and  under  their 
care  one  of  the  members  of  his  body  which  he  had  purchased 
with  his  precious  blood,  it  seemed  proper  and  reasonable  that 
they  should  present  the  infant  to  the  God  who  gave  it,  asking 
his  aid  in  the  important  duty  which  had  devolved  upon  them, 
and  religiously  confessing,  by  this  act,  their  obligation  to  and 


APPENDIX.  207 

dependence  on  the  Father  of  all  worlds.  Yet  we  could  not 
call  an  act  of  this  kind  baptism  ;  we  believe  there  is  but  otie 
baptisjnj  and  this,  because  the  Spirit  of  God  asserts,  by  the 
Apostle  Paul,  that  there  is  but  one  baptism,  and  the  idea  of 
this  single  baptism  is  corroborated  by  the  class  in  which  we 
find  it  placed.  '  Otie  Lord,  one  faith,  one  baptism,  one  God 
and  Father  of  all,  who  is  above  all,  and  throtigh  all,  and  in 
you  all' — Ephesians  iv  :  5,  6.  After  much  deliberation,  I  pro- 
posed, and  many  of  my  hearers  have  adopted,  the  following 
mode  :  The  parent  or  parents  (I  am  always  best  pleased  when 
both  parents  unite),  bring  their  children  into  the  great  congre- 
gation, and  stand  in  the  broad  aisle,  in  the  presence  of  the 
worshippers  of  God.  The  father,  receiving  the  babe  from  the 
arms  of  the  mother,  presents  it  to  the  servant  of  God  who 
statedly  ministers  at  his  altar.  The  ambassador  of  Christ 
receives  it  in  his  arms,  deriving  his  authority  for  this  practice 
from  the  example  of  the  Redeemer,  who  says,  'Suffer  little 
children  to  come  unto  me,  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.' 
The  minister,  therefore,  taking  the  infant  from  its  father,  who 
gives  him,  as  he  presents  it,  the  name  of  the  child,  proclaims 
aloud  :  '  John  or  Mary,  we  receive  thee  as  a  member  of  the 
mystical  body  of  him  who  is  the  second  Adam,  the  Redeemer 
of  men,  the  Lord  from  heaven.  We  dedicate  thee  to  him,  to 
whom  thou  properly  belongest,  to  be  baptized  with  his  own 
baptism,  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost;  and  we  pronounce  upon  thee  that  blessing  which 
he  commanded  his  ministers,  Moses,  Aaron,  and  his  sons,  to 
pronounce  upon  his  people,  saying : 

"  '  The  Lord  bless  thee  and  keep  thee; 

" '  The  Lord  make  his  face  to  shine  upon  thee,  and  be  gra- 
cious unto  thee  ; 

"  '  The  Lord  lift  his  countenance  upon  thee,  and  give  thee 
peace.' 

"  For  this  procedure  we  have  the  command,  the  express  com- 
mand of  God.  Our  reason  and  our  religion  concur  to  approve 
the  solemnity,  and  our  hearts  are  at  peace."  Murray's  Works, 
Vol.  2,  pp.  366-368. 


208  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 


APPENDIX  U. 


THE  CHURCH  ORGANIZATION. 

Mr.  Jones  has  recorded  the  steps  taken  in  the  Organization 
of  the  Church,  and  the  various  theories  which  he  entertained 
from  time  to  time  in  reference  to  its  aims,  and  its  management. 
I  quote  liberally  from  his  memoranda  : 

"  The  following  Church  Covenant,  introductory  to  the  Com- 
munion of  The  Lord's  Supper,  was  read  publicly  on  the  19th 
of  October,  1806. 

It  was,  after  some  Revision,  read  a  second  time,  to  an 
assembly  of  the  male  members  of  the  Society,  on  the  2d  of 
November,  1806,  When  it  was  voted  that  a  Committee  of  Seven 
should  be  nominated  to  inspect  the  Covenant  and  report  upon  it. 

The  committee:  David  Pearce,  John  Somes,  Isaac  Elwell, 
Abraham  Sawyer,  WilHam  Pearce,  Paine  Elwell,  William 
Dolliver. 

Report. 

"  We,  the  committee,  having  examined  the  foregoing  articles, 
do  approve  of  the  same.  Signed,  William  Pearce,  President  of 
the  Committee." 

On  the  twenty-third  day  of  November,  Anno  Domini  Christi 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  six,  the  Covenant  was  again 
read  to  an  assembly  of  the  Male  Members  of  the  Society,  when 
they  voted, 

"  That  this  Covenant  be  the  Covenant  introductory  to  the 
Communion,  in  this  parish." 

Which  Covenant  is  here  transcribed. 

I.  The  Address  of  the  elder  Brethren  of  the  "  Independent 
Christian  Church  of  Gloucester  ".  to  their  younger  Brethren  and 
Sisters  in  the  same  Society. 

Whereas,  we  are  an  Independent  Society  of  Christians, 
constituted  by  law,  and  we  have  by  the  good  Providence  of 
God  built  a  new  House  of  Worship ;  wishing  to  transmit  our 


APPENDIX.  209 

religious  as  well  as  civil  rights  honourably  adorned  unto  our 
children  and  the  rising  generation ;  and  wishing,  as  the  remain- 
ing Fathers  of  the  "  Independent  Christian  Church  of  Glou- 
cester," to  impress  upon  your  minds  Love  to  God  as  good  and 
merciful  to  all  men  as  his  offspring. 

We  introduce  unto  you  this  Covenant  signed  by  us  as  our 
Church  Covenant  introductory  to  the  Communion ;  to  be  signed 
by  you  also  when  you  shall  find  yourselves  so  disposed.  And 
we  do  hereby  declare  and  ordain  that  the  signing  of  this  Cove- 
nant shall  entitle  the  signers  to  sit  down  to  our  Communion, 
provided  they  are  in  their  morals  conformable  to  the  rules  of 
the  church. 

Those  members  who  from  scruple  of  any  kind  decline  com- 
muning, shall  not  be  censurable  on  that  account. 

[Let  it  be  always  understood  that  this  Covenant  shall  not 
annul  or  any  way  set  aside  the  powers  and  privileges  of  the 
Society  denominated  in  the  Constitution  by  Law  of  the  State, 
"The  Independent  Christian  Church  of  Gloucester;"  nor  shall 
the  signers  of  this  Covenant  have  any  power  or  authority  over 
the  members  of  this  Society,  constituted  by  law,  to  curtail,  or 
in  any  way  infringe  upon  their  priviledges  as  a  legal  incorpo- 
rate body.  And  let  it  be  understood  that  all  the  exclusive 
rights  this  Covenant  shall  give  any  one  signing  it,  shall  be  only 
a  right  to  the  Communion,  and  a  right  to  suffrage  and  legisla- 
tion for  communicants  only.  In  all  other  respects  they  shall 
only  be  equal  to  other  individuals  in  the  parish  according  to 
law.] 

And  we  ordain  it  as  a  Rule  in  our  Church  that  any  person 
wishing  to  become  a  Communicant,  shall  express  the  same  to 
the  Pastor  of  the  Church,  by  writing  or  otherwise,  and  he  shall 
notify  the  Wardens  of  the  Church  thereof;  and  at  the  end  of 
one  month  from  the  notice,  the  Wardens  shall  give  their  answer 
to  the  Pastor  of  the  Church,  and  he  shall  transmit  the  answer 
to  the  candidate ;  and  to  every  accepted  member  the  Covenant 
shall  be  read,  and  they  consenting  thereto,  their  names  shall  be 
inserted  in  the  Church  Book  as  members  thereof. 

We  recommend  that  the  Youth  should  have  Two  Lectures  in 
the  year  devoted  to  them,  on  the  first  Rudiments  of  Religion 
and  Virtue. 

II.    The  Religious  Articles  of  Faith. 

I.  We  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Son  of  God,  the 
Saviour  of  the  World. 


210  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

2.  We  receive  the  Bible  as  the  Word  and  Revelation  of  God, 
and  confess  the  authority  of  the  New  Testament  as  the  Consti- 
tution and  Law  of  the  Christian  Church. 

3.  We  receive  it  as  our  Rule  of  Faith  and  Moral  Conduct ; 
and  as  we  would  Hope  for  ImmortaHty  by  its  gracious  prom- 
ises, we  would  conform  ourselves  to  the  morals  which  it  incul- 
cates, as  both  our  priviledge  and  duty  as  believers  of  the  Gos- 
pel of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  glorify  Him  among  men  and  in 
ourselves  by  a  virtuous  conduct — by  Justice,  Mercy,  Industry, 
Temperance,  Chastity,  Sobriety;  shunning  all  vice  and  immor- 
ality. And  as  we  believe  in  and  hope  for  the  Redemption  of 
All  Men  from  the  Bondage  of  Corruption,  and  their  final  Salva- 
tion from  Sin  and  death  by  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  we  would 
wish  to  feel  and  show  unto  all  that  this  Grace  teacheth  us  to 
deny  all  ungodliness,  and  to  follow  peace  and  holiness  with  all 
men. 

4.  Knowing  our  dependent  state  and  imperfection  in  this 
state  of  learning,  and  being  sensible  of  our  dependence  upon 
God,  we  hold  it  our  duty  and  greatest  priviledge  to  pray  unto 
our  Heavenly  Father  who  seeth  in  secret,  for  his  divine  aid  and 
influence  to  enhghten  our  understandings  and  sanctify  our 
hearts  by  the  means  of  the  Gospel. 

5.  We  esteem  it  our  duty  and  priviledge  to  attend  the  min- 
istry of  the  Gospel ;  to  read  or  hear  the  Holy  Scriptures,  for 
our  instruction  and  comfort ;  and  to  keep  the  first  day  of  the 
week  sacred  to  Religion. 

6.  We  hold  it  our  duty  to  instruct  our  Children  and  the 
youths  under  our  care,  in  the  first  principles  of  the  Christian 
Faith,  and  to  inculcate  and  impress  upon  them  moral  virtue  and 
industry,  and  the  attendance  of  Public  Worship  on  the  Sabbath. 

7.  And  as  members  of  the  Church  we  will  consider  ourselves 
under  the  authority  of  her  laws  subscribed  by  us. 

8.  Believing  that  Jesus  Christ  died  for  our  Sins,  and  was 
raised  again  for  our  Justification,  and  that  he  is  the  Propitia- 
tion for  the  sin  of  the  whole  world,*  as  a  medium  of  manifesta- 
tion, we  commemorate  his  death  by  the  ordinance  of  the  Sup- 
per, instituted  by  him,  to  be  used  by  his  disciples  in  Faith  and 
Love,  till  his  Second  Advent.     And  we  eat  the  bread  and  drink 

*  Christ's  death  I  consider  7iot  as  a  Satisfaction  to  God  for  Sin;  but  as  a  manifes- 
tation of  his  Grace  triumphing  over  Sin.     T.  Jones. 


APPENDIX.  211 

the  wine  as  expressive  Symbols  of  his  Body  and  Blood,  given 
for  the  manifestation  of  our  redemption.  And  hereby,  as  by 
visible  objects,  we  would  impress  our  minds  with  the  memory 
and  import  thereof. 

And  we  hold  it  both  a  Duty  and  priviledge,  to  adorn  our  pro- 
fession by  a  Life  and  Conversation  conformable  thereto. 
Thomas  Jones,  Hannah  Harkin, 

Pastor  of  the  Church,     David  Day, 
Sophia  Jones,  Lucy  Day, 

Abraham  Sawyer,  Abigail  Dolliver, 

Mrs.  a.  Sawyer,  Lydia  Prentiss, 

David  Pearce,  Triphene  Mason, 

Elizabeth  Pearce,  Elizabeth  Procter, 

Isaac  Elwell,  Elizabeth  Low, 

Tammy  Elwell,  Abigail  Trask, 

William  Pearce,  Lydia  Morse, 

Thomazine  Pearce,  Hannah  Ingersol, 

Hannah  Tucker,  Sarah  Rust, 

Hannah  Ball,  Sarah  Folsom, 

Ann  Hough,  Caleb  Norwood, 

David  Haraden,  Mrs.  C.  Norwood, 

Hannah  Haraden,  Joseph  Moore, 

Susannah  Stanwood,  Hannah  Moore. 
All  these  foregoing  names  were  signed  while  the  Book  stood 
open  for  the  insertion  of  those  in  the  parish  who  felt  that 
liberty  and  desire  in  themselves,  without  standing  proposed. 
After  the  space  of  four  or  five  months,  while  the  book  was  thus 
open,  it  was  voted  by  the  Church  male  Members  assembled, 
that  in  future  every  Member  should  be  proposed,  and  stand  a 
Candidate  one  Month. 

N.  B.  Though  the  "Independent  Christian  Church  of  Glou- 
cester" was  constituted  by  Law,  as  a  Parish,  many  years  ago, 
they  had  not  the  Ordinance  of  the  Supper  among  them  till  now. 

Facit  per  Th.  Jones. 

Church  Affairs. 
At   a  meeting  of  the  Church  Members   in   the  Vestry,  held 
May  25th,  1807,  it  was  decided  that  there  should  be  two  Com- 
munions before  Christmas  next  ensuing,  after  the  Communion 
on  the  31st  of  May,  viz.,  on  the  last  Sabbath  in  July,  and  on  the 


212  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

last  Sabbath  in  September.  And  the  Communion  following 
after,  to  be  on  the  first  Sabbath  after  Christmas  Day;  and 
afterwards  regularly  every  two  Months,  and  that  on  the  first 
Sabbath  in  the  Month. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  male  Members  of  the  Church  was 
called  September  24th,  1808,  on  some  particular  Business. 
Brothers  Isaac  Elwell  and  Paine  Elwell  were  unanimously 
chosen  Wardens  of  the  Church. 

May  4th,  A.  D.  C.  1812. 

Yesterday  was  our  Communion  day,  and  in  the  Sermon 
immediately  before  it  I  advanced  the  following  theses,  viz.. 
That  there  should  be  no  railing  round  the  Communion  Table. 
That  all  in  a  parish  or  congregation,  of  the  age  of  discretion, 
should  be  considered  as  having  a  right  to  partake  of  the  Lord's 
Supper,  as  they  have  a  right  to  baptism,  without  ceremony. 
(For  in  my  parish  this  is  the  case  —  every  married  couple  have 
a  right  to  present  their  children  for  baptism  without  any  cere- 
mony or  process  previous  thereto.)  That  I  conceived  should 
such  a  mode  be  adopted,  to  admit  whosoever  willed,  to  the 
Communion,  without  ceremony,  it  would  be  no  disadvantage  to 
the  Cause  of  Christianity,  but  rather  an  Advantage.  That 
viscious  characters  would  not  be  inclmed  to  approach  the  table. 
That  by  free  communion  there  would  be  no  temptation  to 
hypocrisy,  as  in  that  case  all  would  be  deemed  equal.  That  it 
should  be  left  entirely  to  the  conscience  of  the  individual ;  that 
there  should  be  no  force  used  to  compel,  or  to  restrain.  That 
it  should  be  optional — no  umbrage  taken  at  any  time  when 
certain  did  not  partake  —  no  questions  asked.  That  it  was  the 
priviledge  of  all  in  a  congregation  who  believed  Christianity, 
to  make  this  publick  profession  of  it  by  the  Communion.  That 
doubtless  our  conduct  ought  to  be  conformable  to  our  profes- 
sion; that  honour  among  men  required  this  of  us,  and  Chris- 
tianity required  no  more  than  a  uniform  conformation  to  virtue 
in  word  and  deed.  And  I  here  add,  that  if  the  members  of  a 
Society  in  general,  celebrated  the  Communion,  it  would  be  the 
strength  of  that  body  or  society. 

Wherefore,  I  mean  to  introduce  a  proposition  to  the  pres- 
ent Members  of  Communion,  in  the  Society  generally  called 
the  Church,  in  the  following  words,  viz. : 


APPENDIX.  213 

Whereas,  we  hold  universal  grace  in  God  towards  all  men, 
which  is  manifested  in  his  Son,  and  preached  by  the  Gospel, 
addressed  to  all  indiscriminately;  we  think  it  right  that  each 
and  every  one  in  our  Society,  of  age  of  discretion,  possessing 
reason,  and  pure  in  morals,  should  have  right  and  priviledge  to 
partake  of  the  Communion,  without  any  previous  ceremony  of 
proposing  themselves  as  members,  being  asked  questions,  &c. ; 
as  we  would  wish  to  make  the  Communion  Table  as  free  of 
access  to  all  who  feel  liberty  to  partake  of  it,  as  we  would  our 
house  of  worship  to  all  comers.* 

Nov.  20th,  1814. 
I  did  not  introduce  the  above  proposition  till  to-day,  after 
afternoon  service,  when  the  Members  of  the  Table  stopped  by 
request,  on  other  business,  which  need  not  be  written  ;  and  I 
took  the  opportunity  to  introduce  the  above  proposition,  in 
substance,  for  consideration,  suggesting  that  we  would  have  a 
meeting  on  the  subject,  and  adopt  or  reject  it. 

Nov,  22d,  1814. 
The  preceding  Proposition  does  not  take  with  the  leading 
persons  who  have  the  sway.  So  it  must  for  the  present  be 
dropped.  However,  I  think  it  would  have  done  much  good 
could  it  have  been  passed  into  a  law;  and  would  have  de- 
stroyed envy,  and  the  cause  of  it.  Perhaps  it  may  pass  at  some 
future  day.  I  will  here  explain  the  Proposition  more  particu- 
larly, and  say,  it  intends  that  all  persons  in  the  Parish,  arrived 
at  the  age  of  21,  shall  have  a  Right  to  Sit  at  the  Communion 
Table,  and  partake  thereof,  without  any  Cerembny  whatever. 
And  lest  any  disorder  should  arise  from  this  priviledge,  by 
abuse,  it  was  intended  that  there  should  be  a  committee  of 
three  appointed  from  among  the  Members  of  the  Communion, 
to  be  called  The  Committee  of  Order.  The  Minister  should  be 
one  of  that  Committee.  The  charge  of  the  said  Committee 
should  be,  to  see  that  all  things  be  done  decently  and  in  order ; 
That  no  one  stay  to  communion  who  is  not  a  parishioner,  ex- 

*  This  proposition  I  mean  to  introduce  to  the  present  Church,  for  discussion, 
before  the  next  Communion.  And  preparatory  thereto,  I  mean  to  converse  freely 
with  the  several  members  thereupon,  and  answer  with  candour  any  objections  any 
of  them  may  bring  against  such  a  proposition  being  adopted. — T.  J. 


214  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

cept  by  permission ;  to  see  that  no  one  be  present  who  is  an 
immoral  person  and  unreformed.  Such  shall  be  commanded 
to  withdraw,  by  the  said  Committee,  and  if  they  refuse,  shall  be 
treated  as  disturbers  of  the  peace.  Moreover,  it  was  intended 
that  the  said  Committee  should  have  it  in  charge  to  visit  any 
Member  of  the  Communion  reported  to  walk  disorderly,  and 
to  admonish  such  member,  as  the  case  may  require ;  and  if  the 
case  be  flagrant,  such  as  theft,  adultery,  fornication,  profane 
swearing,  fraud,  lying,  the  said  delinquent  member  shall  be  sus- 
pended three  years,  and  after  that  term,  if  repentant  and  re- 
formed, shall  be  received  again  into  full  fellowship. 

But  the  Proposition  has  at  present  fallen  through,  and  must 
lie  dormant  for  awhile.  But  if  ever  revived  in  my  day,  the 
Right  of  Female  Members  to  Suffrage  shall  be  introduced  and 
pleaded  for. 

Nov.  22d,  1814. 
The  Supper  is  postponed  for  this  winter,  and  it  is  contem- 
plated to  celebrate  it  in  March  or  April.  After  which,  if  the 
war  continues,  I  mean  to  propose  that  it  be  postponed  till  after 
the  war;  and  be  had  the  next  Sabbath  after  the  Proclamation 
of  Peace. 

August  24th,  1816. 
Made  an  attempt  to  add  a  supplementary  article,  on  the  mode 
of  receiving  members  into  the  Church,  viz.,  by  vote  of  the 
whole  church,  of  both  male  and  female,  on  the  Sabbath  after 
they  are  proposed ;  but  an  aged  Matron  objected  to  females 
voting,  as  novel  to  us.     So  it  falls  through. 

October,  1818. 
A  new  Regulation  in  the  admission  of  Church  members. 
Instead  of  the  mode  hitherto  used  in  admitting  members  in  this 
Church,  we  adopt  the  following :  A  decisive  answer  shall  be 
given  the  candidates  for  membership,  the  same  week  in  which 
they  propose  themselves. 

May,  1819. 
A  regulation  agreed  upon  by  the  Communicants  who  govern : 
That  this  Summer  and  Fall  the   Communion  shall  be  held  the 
first  Sabbath  in  every  month." 


APPENDIX.  215 

After  this  several  memoranda  occur,  to  the  effect  that  Mr. 
Jones  contemplated  proposing  amendments  with  a  view  to 
make  the  Profession  and  Rules  more  simple ;  but  it  does  not 
seem  that  any  of  these  were  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  church. 

In  1840,  while  Mr.  Smith  was  Junior  Pastor;  a  committee 
consisting  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Smith  and  Jones  and  Mr.  B.  K. 
Hough,  was  appointed  to  revise  the  Articles  of  Faith,  or  pre- 
sent a  jiew  Constitution. 

On  their  recommendation,  the  Church  adopted,  Jan.  20th, 
1840,  the  following  "  Declaration  of  Faith.  We  believe  in  one 
God,  the  Father  of  all  mankind ;  in  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of 
God  and  Saviour  of  the  whole  world;  and  in  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures as  the  Word  of  God,  and  the  revelation  of  the  duty  and 
the  final  destination  of  all  mankind." 

In  1863  a  slight  change  was  made  in  the  laws  and  rules  of  the 
church;  and  in  1869  the  Church  adopted  the  "Articles  of  Reli- 
gion and  Rules  of  Government "  proposed  by  the  Roxbury 
Conference. 

A  Silver  Service,  of  nine  pieces,  was  presented  to  the  Church 
in  1806,  by  Col.  William  Pearce,  and  is  still  in  use. 


APPENDIX  V. 


FUNERAL  OF  REV.  JOHN  MURRAY. 

Mr.  Murray's  funeral  took  place  September  4th,  1815.  Mr. 
Jones'  sermon  on  that  occasion  was  prefaced  by  the  following 
remarks : 

"  My  friends,  I  am  called  this  day  to  perform  a  solemn  duty, 
—  solemn  to  you  and  solemn  to  me.  There  lies  the  body  of 
the  man  you  loved  and  revered  while  living,  whose  doctrine 
hath  often  made  your  souls  feel  the  '  Powers  of  the  world  to 
come.'     In  a  dark  day  he  was  made  able  to  sound  the  trumpet 


2l6  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

of  Universal  Grace.  Opposition  to  the  cause  of  free  grace,  in 
which  he  had  engaged,  was  made  to  do  it  service,  and  all 
things  wrought  together  for  his  success  in  making  the  theme 
famous. 

"  Having  for  a  season  traveled  in  the  United  States,  and 
preached  at  many  places,  he  came  at  length  into  New  England, 
and  visited  Cape  Ann,  where  was  his  first  establishment. 
From  thence  he  removed  here,  where  he  has  closed  his  days. 

"  Since  his  infirmity,  which  closed  his  public  services  for 
about  six  years,  he  often  appeared  impatient  for  a  passage  into 
the  World  to  come.  Shall  we  who  shed  tears  of  sympathy  and 
friendship,  grieve  at  his  release?  Nay,  let  us  rather  be  thank- 
ful to  our  Heavenly  Father  that  he  hath  delivered  him  from 
the  burden  of  the  flesh. 

"  I  would  address  his  surviving  Consort  and  Daughter,  and 
say,  Weep  not  that  your  Husband,  your  Father,  is  translated 
to  heaven,  freed  from  every  care,  trouble,  sorrow,  and  all  infirm- 
ities, but  rejoice  that  you  are  assured  that  you  shall,  without 
failure,  join  him  in  the  immortal  inheritance. 

"  I  would  address  you,  his  once  beloved  Church  and  congre- 
gation, under  the  Chief  Shepherd,  and  say  to  you,  Cherish  ye 
the  seed  sown  among  you  by  him  who  is  no  more  among  the 
living  upon  earth.  Let  the  Morning  which  shone  forth  fair  in 
him,  proceed  to  its  high  Meridian  without  a  cloud;  while  ye 
cry  out  with  Elisha,  '  The  chariots  of  Israel,  and  the  horsemen 
thereof.'  And  while  ye  pray  that  a  double  portion  of  the  Spirit 
of  Truth  that  rested  upon  him  may  rest  upon  you  and  upon 
your  surviving  Pastor  in  the  Lord.  May  his  hands  be  strength- 
ened, his  knees  confirmed,  his  light  be  abundant,  and  his  use- 
fulness be  enlarged,  to  the  gathering  in  of  many  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  Truth.  May  God  enlarge  you  as  Japeth,  and 
make  your  numbers  like  Ephraim. 

"  Bless  ye  God,  most  cordially,  for  the  first  light  which  shone 
upon  many  of  you,  by  the  ministry  of  your  now  deceased  pas- 
tor. Would  you  honour  his  memory,  then  stand  ye  fast  in  the 
Liberty  of  Christ,  and  be  not  entangled  with  any  yoke  of 
bondage.  Learn  ye  by  the  Doctrine  of  Grace,  which  the  per- 
sonage you  now  mourn  had  the  pleasure  and  honour  of  open- 
ing to  you,  to  glorify  God  by  a  Christian  Profession,  and  a  Con- 
versation becoming  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 


APPENDIX.  217 

"  For  all  the  gifts  which  God  hath  given  you,  bless  ye  God, 
and  say  ye,  God  gave  the  word,  and  at  length  great  was  the 
number  of  its  publishers.  We  expect  not  man  to  be  immortal 
upon  earth.  He  hath  only  taken  away  what  he  gave  ;  acknowl- 
edge ye  his  gift,  'The  Lord  gave,'  and  acquiesce  ye  in  his 
doings  by  saying  also,  '  The  Lord  hath  taken  away.  Blessed  be 
the  Name  of  the  Lord.  Let  your  minds  this  day,  from  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  look  forward  to  the  immortal 
state  which  we  expect  as  the  free  Gift  of  God  revealed  in  His 
Son.  Jesus  hath  triumphed  over  death.  His  glorified  person 
is  our  Pledge  of  Immortality.  Then,  as  death  comes  near  us, 
and  snatches  away  our  friends  and  companions,  let  us  fear  him 
the  less.  Death  is  only  an  enemy  to  our  feelings  in  flesh  and 
blood.  Death  itself  is  ours,  for  we  are  more  than  Conquerors 
over  death,  through  him  that  loved  us. 

"  These  things  I  have  said,  in  a  cursory  way,  for  your  edifi- 
cation under  the  present  dispensation  of  Providence,  and  shall 
not  enlarge  by  entering  more  particularly  into  the  history  of 
our  beloved  mutual  friend  and  brother.  A  succinct  account 
of  his  life  since  his  removal  to  this  country,  being  in  manu- 
script written  by  himself,  will  give  such  information  to  those 
who  may  desire  it. 

"  I  shall  therefore  read  an  appropriate  text  on  the  occasion, 
and  deliver  a  discourse  therefrom." 

The  text  from  which  Mr.  Jones  then  preached  was  :  "  Then 
shall  the  dust  return  to  the  earth  as  it  was,  and  the  spirit  shall 
return  unto  God  who  gave  it." — Ecclesiastes  xii  :  7. 

The  Sermon  was  not  written  for  this  occasion,  but  had  seen 
service  before,  and  was  subsequently  used.  It  contained  no 
further  allusion  to  Mr.  Murray. 

The  introduction  to  his  Sermon  in  Boston,  the  Sunday  fol- 
lowing the  funeral,  contains  little  or  nothing  that  would  be  new 
to  any  one  who  had  perused  the  Life  of  Murray.  About  all 
that  it  offers  of  biographical  information  is  also  in  the  follow- 
ing preface  to  a  Sermon  preached  in  Gloucester  the  second 
Sunday  after  the  funeral : 

"Your  Fathers,  where  are  they?  and  the  prophets,  do  they 
live  forever?  — Zechariah  1:5. 

"One  generation  passeth  away,  and  another  generation 
cometh ;  but  the  earth  abideth  forever. — Ecclesiastes  i  :  4. 


216  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

"  My  Friends,  we  are  this  day  called  to  pay  a  tribute  of 
respect  to  the  memory  of  our  Friend  and  Brother,  Mr.  John 
Murray,  (now  no  more  among  the  living  upon  earth),  as  the 
first  preacher  of  the  doctrine  of  Universal  Salvation  in  America. 

"In  this  place  was  his  first  permanent  settlement  as  a  Min- 
ister of  the  Gospel  proclaiming  glad  tidings  unto  all  people. 
Several  yet  alive  in  this  house  were  taught  the  glad  sound  from 
his  mouth.  He  first  ministered  to  you  in  holy  things.  His 
doctrine  made  your  souls  feel  the  Powers  of  the  World  to  come. 
In  a  dark  day  he  was  made  able  to  sound  the  trumpet  of  Uni- 
versal grace.  Opposition  had  no  success,  but  was  generally 
pressed  into  the  service  of  the  cause  of  free  Universal  grace  in 
which  he  had  engaged ;  and  all  things  wrought  together  for  his 
success  in  making  the  theme  famous. 

"  Since  the  closing  of  his  public  labours  by  infirmity,  (which 
will  be  six  years  next  month),  he  often  appeared  impatient  for 
a  passage  into  the  world  to  come.  Shall  we  grieve  at  his  long- 
desired  and  earnestly  prayed-for  release  ?  Nay,  but  let  us 
rather  be  thankful  to  God  that  he  hath  delivered  him  from  the 
burden  of  the  flesh. 

"  Would  you  honour  his  memory  ?  Then  stand  ye  fast  in  the 
liberty  of  Christ,  and  be  not  entangled  with  any  yoke  of  bond- 
age ;  but  learn  ye  by  the  doctrine  of  Universal  free  grace  to 
glorify  God  by  a  Christian  profession,  and  a  conversation  con- 
formable to  pure  morality. 

"  Let  our  minds  this  day,  from  the  '  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death,'  look  forward  to  the  immortal  inheritance  which  we  have 
as  the  free  gift  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  Jesus  hath  triumphed 
over  death.  His  glorified  person  is  our  pledge  of  ImmortaHty  ! 
Then  as  death  comes  near  us,  and  snatches  away  our  friends 
and  companions,  let  us  fear  him  the  less.  Death  is  only  an 
enemy  to  our  feelings  in  flesh  and  blood.  Death  itself  is  ours 
in  the  ordained  process  to  glory.  We  are  more  than  conquerors 
over  death,  through  him  that  loved  us. 

"  Perhaps  I  cannot  gratify  my  audience  more,  on  this  occa- 
sion, than  by  giving  the  following  short  sketch  of  our  venerable 
Brother's  life. 

"  Mr.  John  Murray  was  born  near  London,  and  continued  in 
England  till  he  was  about  eleven  years  of  age,  when  he  was 
taken  to  Ireland  by  an  uncle  [by  his  father],  with  whom  he  con- 


APPENDIX. 


219 


tinued  till  he  was  about  nineteen  years  of  age;  and  then 
returned  to  England,  and  resided  in  London. 

"While  in  Ireland,  young  in  years,  he  was  religiously  im- 
pressed, among  the  followers  of  Mr.  John  Wesley,  and  at  length 
spoke  in  select  societies  of  that  people,  and  then  publicly  for 
a  time.  After  his  return  from  Ireland  to  London,  he  was  in 
process  of  time  led  to  hear  the  celebrated  James  Relly,  against 
whom  he  had  once  (I  have  heard  him  say)  conceived  the  most 
inveterate  prejudice,  as  a  heretic  of  the  worst  kind.  However, 
his  prejudices  were  so  far  overcome,  that  he  went  to  hear  the 
reputed  heretic  for  himself ;  and  hearing,  he  inferred  from  the 
doctrine  presented,  the  sentiment  of  Universal  grace  and  salva- 
tion for  all  the  offspring  of  God. 

"  I  have  heard  Mr.  Murray  say  that  when  he  came  into  this 
country  he  had  no  thought  of  preaching,  but  only  to  bury  him- 
self in  its  hidden  recesses.  But  peculiar  events  induced  him  to 
yield  to  pressing  solicitations.  He  preached  first  in  New  Jer- 
sey, and  afterwards  at  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Virginia,  New 
Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut.  In 
this  Town,  being  invited,  he  came,  and  first  preached  here  Nov., 
1774.  Here  he  found  a  few  who  were  in  favour  of  Universal 
Grace,  from  reading  Mr.  Kelly's  Works,  who  heard  him  gladly, 
and  received  additional  light  from  his  preaching.  In  1775  this 
place  became  his  permanent  home;  and  in  1780  the  Meeting 
House  in  which  we  met  when  I  first  came  here,  was  built  for 
him,  in  which  he  preached  till  his  removal  to  Boston,  in  the 
year  1793. 

"That  Meeting  House  has  been  succeeded  by  this  in  which 
we  now  assemble,  dedicated  in  1806  ;  and  since  then  has  the 
Society  of  Universalists  in  Portsmouth  also  built  a  large  new 
house;  and  the  Society  of  Salem  have  done  in  like  manner; 
and  so  also  has  a  branch  of  the  Boston  Society,  associated  with 
others,  built  a  new  Meeting  House  in  Charlestown.  So  that 
in  the  space  of  nine  years,  four  large,  elegant  Churches  have 
been  built  and  Dedicated  to  God  as  Love,  as  the  Saviour  of 
all  men,  near  enough  together  for  the  Ministers  to  make  ex- 
changes without  much  inconvenience. 

"  Here  we  may  stand  still  and  say,  '  What  hath  God  wrought ' 
by  means  of  the  work  begun  by  our  now  deceased  brother ! 

"Against   the    Doctrine   of   Universal   Grace   and  Salvation 


220  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

prejudices  at  first  ran  high.  Sincere  people  became  alarmed  at 
it  as  a  dangerous  heresy.  Strange  infatuation !  that  the  com- 
mon Grace  of  God  towards  His  common  offspring  should  be 
counted  a  heresy ! 

"  The  opposition  and  persecution  our  venerable  deceased 
Brother  met  with,  did  not  weaken  his  faith.  He  grew  stronger 
and  stronger.  He  traveled  and  preached  at  different  Towns 
occasionally.  Many  heard  him,  and  many  felt  joy  and  peace 
in  believing  that  God  is  Love. 

"  The  confinement  of  six  years  by  palsy,  was  no  small  afflic- 
tion, especially  to  him,  who  delighted  in  being  about  among  his 
friends.  It  was  a  heavy  and  sore  confinement.  But  to  the 
calamity  he  resigned  himself,  as  under  the  conduct  of  God,  who 
presides  over  all  things,  and  so  Superintends  all  things  as  to 
manifest  His  own  glory  thereby,  and  to  bring  forth  the  ultimate 
good  of  his  creature,  man,  therefrom. 

"  The  greatest  anxiety  he  manifested  during  his  state  of  con- 
finement was  an  ardent  desire  to  put  off  this  Tabernacle ;  to 
be  clothed  upon  with  Immortality,  that  mortality  might  be 
swallowed  up  of  life. 

"During  the  triumph  of  his  long  infirmity  he  never  mani- 
fested any  fear  or  doubt,  but  a  full  assurance  of  the  under- 
standing. And  when  he  heard  from  time  to  time  of  the  death 
of  some  of  his  old  friends,  he  would  exclaim  in  language  like 
the  following:  '  O,  why  am  not  I  released?  Why  was  not  I 
called  first?' 

"  His  easy  manner  of  communication  in  his  public  ministra- 
tion, his  rich  flow  of  appropriate  language  in  preaching,  his 
shrewd  and  pertinent  remarks,  fully  to  the  point  in  hand,  and 
especially  the  clear  and  bright  light  he  threw  on  the  Law  and 
the  Prophets,  will  not  be  forgotten  by  his  hearers  while  they 
live  upon  the  earth. 

"  His  sympathy  was  as  great  as  any  man's.  He  would  liter- 
ally weep  with  those  that  wept,  and  rejoice  with  those  that 
rejoiced. 

"  But  he  is  no  longer  in  the  regions  of  mortality.  He  fin- 
ished his  course  with  joy,  this  day  fortnight,  at  6  in  the  morn- 
ing. He  continued  stedfast  in  the  faith  of  Universal  Salva- 
tion ;  it  was  his  theme  of  rejoicing  while  he  retained  his  senses. 
Let  us  all  who  are  journeying  after  him,  glorify  God  in  our 
bodies  and  spirits,  which  are  God's. 


APPENDIX.  221 

"  Now,  my  friends,  I  will  turn  your  attention  to  the  appropri- 
ate texts  read  on  this  occasion;  bidding  our  venerable  and 
beloved  Brother  Adieu,  till  we  join  him  in  that  world  where 
neither  sickness,  pains,  troubles,  nor  death,  shall  be  known  any 
more  forever." 


APPENDIX  W. 


THE  SUNDAY  SCHOOL. 

The  First  Universalist  Sunday  School  was,  I  have  no  doubt, 
established  in  the  Lombard  street  Church,  Philadelphia,  in 
1816 ;  and  may  have  grown  out  of  a  system  of  catechizing  chil- 
dren in  the  church,  adopted  by  Rev.  George  Richards  in  181 2. 
Another  school  was  organized  in  the  same  Church  in  1834,  the 
first  having  ceased  to  exist  about  1826. 

The  next  Sunday  School  was  organized  in  1817  by  Rev.  Paul 
Dean,  in  the  First  Universalist  Society  in  Boston,  of  which  he 
was  then  pastor.  On  his  ceasing  to  be  pastor,  in  1823,  the 
school  died. 

When  the  School  in  Gloucester  was  started,  the  New  Testa- 
ment was  the  text  book  employed,  the  scholars  committing 
verses  to  memory.  Moral  selections  were  also  read  to  the 
school,  from  the  English  Reader.  Within  a  year  the  school 
began  to  use  "The  Child's  Scriptural  Catechism,  by  Hosea 
Ballou."  And  not  long  after  this,  the  committing  to  memory 
of  the  Psalms  of  David,  and  the  Hymns  used  by  the  congrega- 
tion, formed  part  of  the  instruction. 

The  Superintendents  of  the  school,  with  the  dates  of  their 
commencing  service,  have  been  as  follows :  Dr.  William  Fer- 
son,  1820;  Miss  Judith  Millett,  1826;  Dr.  Ebenezer  Dale,  1830; 
John  J.  Babson,  1833;  Benjamin  K.  Hough,  jr.,  1836;  Benjamin 
H.  Corliss,  1840;  William  Babson,  1842;  Thomas  Baker,  1848; 
Henry  Cummings,  1856;  George  W.  Plumer,  1859;  Francis 
Bennett,  jr..  Assistant  Superintendent  and  acting  Superinten- 
dent, i860;  James  Davis,  1861  ;  Edward  Dolliver,  1878. 


222  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 


APPENDIX  X. 


THE  SEMI-CENTENNIAL. 

The  following  is  the  article  furnished  by  Rev.  Paul  Dean  for 
the  Univeisalist  Magazine  : 

Messrs.  Editors,  — At  the  request  of  the  Society,  and 
agreeable  to  previous  notice  in  the  public  prints,  a  number  of 
ministering  brethren  assembled  at  Gloucester,  Mass.,  on  the 
3d  instant,  for  the  purpose  of  attending  the  semi-century  com- 
memoration of  the  first  preaching  of  Universal  grace  and  sal- 
vation in  that  place,  fifty  years  from  that  day,  by  the  late  Rev. 
John  Murray. 

"This  occasion  awakened  in  many  bosoms  the  most  inter- 
esting and  sacred  recollections.  The  goodness  and  help  of 
Divine  Providence  '  in  the  day  of  small  things; '  the  faith,  pa- 
tience and  perseverance  with  which  some  endured  trials ;  and 
the  peace,  joy  and  triumphant  hope  in  which  many  others  had 
finished  their  earthly  course,  passed  in  review  before  us  in  the 
animated  visions  of  remembrance,  and  reminded  us  of  our 
sacred  obligations  of  gratitude  and  faithfulness  to  Heaven  for 
the  success  and  prosperity  of  that  holy  faith  which  now  causes 
the  pulsations  of  joy  to  beat  high  in  so  many  hearts,  in  the  full 
assurance  of  universal  happiness,  through  the  grace  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"  The  public  services  of  the  morning  were  introduced  by  the 
reading  of  the  second  chapter  of  St.  Paul  to  the  Corinthians, 
first  epistle;  and  after  singing,  continued  by  an  introductory 
address,  by  Br.  Thomas  Whittemore,  of  Cambridgeport,  on 
the  importance  of  the  occasion,  the  propriety  of  commemorat- 
ing the  joy  with  which  the  proclamation  of  God's  universal 
salvation  was  at  first  received  by  the  believing  Gloucesterians; 
the  sufferings  and  persecutions  through  which  they  had  con- 
tended for  the  faith  delivered  unto  them  ;  and  the  success  which 
had  crowned  their  perseverance  in  the  doctrine  of  impartial 
grace  ;  after  which  he  also  offered  the  introductory  prayer. 


APPENDIX.  223 

"  A  sermon  was  then  delivered  by  Br.  Paul  Dean,  of  Boston, 
from  the  7th  chapter  of  the  ist  of  Sam.  and  the  12th  verse: 
'  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us.'  In  this  were  noticed  the 
good  Providence  and  favor  of  God  in  sending  to  this  country, 
his  servant,  the  late  Rev.  John  Murray,  to  preach  to  its  since 
free,  independent  and  favored  inhabitants,  '  the  grace  of  God 
that  bringeth  salvation  to  all  men ; '  and  in  the  success  which 
attended  his  personal  labors;  in  the  courage  and  constancy 
with  which  the  early  believers  of  this  heavenly  doctrine  met, 
sustained  and  overcome  the  trials  of  excommunication,  calumny 
and  oppression,  in  the  name  and  for  the  sake  of  Christian  lib- 
erty; in  the  progress  which  has  attended  this  cause  in  that 
place,  and  in  our  Commonwealth  and  country,  notwithstanding 
the  tide  of  determined  opposition  which  set  against  it ;  and  in 
the  gift  of  Br.  Thomas  Jones  as  a  second  gift  and  messenger  of 
'  good  tidings  from  a  far  country,'  to  be  the  Pastor  and  guar- 
dian of  the  first  Universalist  Church  gathered  in  America. 
The  mention  of  some  of  the  many  signs  of  the  final  and  uni- 
versal prevalence  of  this  grace,  the  felicity  which  will  attend  its 
triumph,  and  the  duty  of  those  who  are  permitted  to  look  for 
its  coming,  finished  the  discourse.  The  concluding  prayer  was 
by  Br.  Zelotes  Fuller,  of  Charlton,  Mass. 

"  In  the  afternoon,  the  first  prayer  was  offered  by  Br.  Bar- 
zillia  Streeter,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  the  discourse  given  by  Br. 
Sebastian  Streeter,  of  Boston,  from  the  first  of  Cor.  iii :  10, 
'  According  to  the  grace  of  God,  which  is  given  unto  me  as  a 
wise  master-builder,  I  have  laid  the  foundation,  and  another 
buildeth  thereon.'  In  which  it  was  ably  and  eloquently  shown 
that  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  as  preached  by  the  Apostles,  John 
Murray,  and  others,  is  the  sure  and  precious  foundation  laid  in 
Zion  for  the  salvation  of  the  World.  He  continued  by  describ- 
ing the  support  which  this  benignant  sentiment  has  yielded  and 
still  yields  its  sincere  followers  in  the  hour  of  affliction  and 
death ;  and  concluded  by  ingeniously  setting  forth  and  defend- 
ing the  mild  and  happy  influence,  which,  as  it  advances,  it  will 
exert  upon  the  minds  and  hearts  of  men,  and  upon  all  the 
institutions  of  society.  Br.  Ezra  Leonard,  of  Cape  Ann,  made 
the  concluding  prayer. 

"The  evening  service  of  said  day  was  commenced  with 
prayer  by  Br.  Hubbard  H.  Winchester,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  and 


224  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

continued  by  an  interesting  sermon  by  Br.  Hosea  Ballou,  2d, 
of  Roxbury ;  Text,  Isaiah  Ix  :  2,  3,  4 :  '  For  behold,  the  dark- 
ness shall  cover  the  earth,  and  gross  darkness  the  people ;  but 
the  Lord  shall  arise  upon  thee,  and  his  glory  shall  be  seen  upon 
thee.  And  the  Gentiles  shall  come  to  thy  light,  and  kings  to 
the  brightness  of  thy  rising.  Lift  up  thine  eyes  round  about, 
and  see ;  all  they  gather  themselves  together,  they  come  to 
thee ;  thy  sons  shall  come  from  far,  and  thy  daughters  shall  be 
nursed  at  thy  side.'  He  contrasted  the  views  of  religion  which 
prevailed  in  these  parts  fifty  years  ago,  with  those  more  rational 
and  enlightened,  which  are  entertained  at  the  present  day; 
and  inferred  from  hence  the  speedy  approach  of  this  blessed 
day,  when  divine  light  and  truth  shall  disperse  the  darkness, 
and  fill  the  whole  earth  with  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  and  bring 
all  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Adam  to  worship  before  him  in 
the  beauties  of  perfect  holiness.  These  animating  services  were 
interspersed  with  excellent  and  appropriate  music  by  the  choir, 
attended  by  full  and  solemnly  attentive  audiences,  and  closed 
with  a  devout  prayer  by  Br.  Thomas  G.  Farnsworth,  of  New- 
ton, Mass.  After  which  we  returned  to  Col.  Pearce's,  by  whose 
Christian  liberality  and  attention,  in  connection  with  others, 
we  were  entertained  in  a  most  friendly  manner.  By  ourselves 
and  many  others,  we  feel  assured  this  celebration  will  be  long 
remembered,  and  numbered  among  the  happiest  occasions  of 
our  lives.  And  we  cherish  the  hope  and  belief  that  the  semi- 
century  return  of  this  day  will  be  celebrated  with  religious  grat- 
itude and  joy  until  Christ  shall  have  an  altar  in  every  place,  and 
at  every  altar  an  herald  of  salvation  ministering  to  his  re- 
deemed. By  order, 

Paul  Dean." 


APPENDIX.  225 


APPENDIX  Y. 


TITLES  OF   THE    ORGANIZATION,  AND  OFFICERS 
OF  THE  CHURCH  AND  SOCIETY. 

1779.  "  Free  and  Independent  Church  of  Christ  in  Glou- 
cester." 

1785.     "  Independent  Christian  Society  of  Gloucester." 

1788.     "Christian  Independent  Society  of  Gloucester." 

1792.  By  Act  of  Incorporation:  "The  Independent  Chris- 
tian Church  in  Gloucester." 

The  dates  appended  to  the  names  of  the  following  Officials 
designate  the  time  of  commencing  service ;  the  length  of  ser- 
vice being  indicated  by  the  appointment  of  successors,  except 
in  the  case  of  the  Deacons,  where  death  alone  has  terminated 
the  time  of  service,  although  in  several  instances,  age  and 
infirmities  have  necessitated  the  appointment  of  successors 
while  the  seniors  were  living. 

Clerks  of  the  Society  :  John  Stevens  Ellery,  1785  ;  Bar- 
nett  Harkin,  1788;  Benjamin  K.  Hough,  1795  ;  William  Saville, 
1804;  Wilham  Babson,  1843;  William  Babson,  jr.,  1845;  Ben- 
jamin F.  Somes,  1851;  George  L.  Ford,  1865;  John  Corliss, 
1867;  Edward  Dolliver,  1875  ;  Albert  P.  Babson,  1879;  Samuel 
M.  Shute,  1884  ;  Charles  C.  Cressy,  1890. 

Treasurers  of  the  Society  :  Epes  Sargent,  1792  ;  John 
Somes,  1794;  WiUiam  Pearce,  1812;  Benjamin  K.  Hough,  1813; 
Benjamin  H.  Corliss,  1853;  Leonard  A.  Burnham,  1875;  Rob- 
ert R.  Fears,  1881  ;  Edward  P.  Ring,  1887. 

Clerks  of  the  Church:  Rev.  Thomas  Jones,  1806;  Wil- 
liam Babson,  1840  to  1846;  after  which  no  records  were  kept 
till  the  appointment  of  Rev.  George  W.  Skinner,  1863.  From 
March,  1864,  there  is  also  a  break  till  the  election  of  Miss 
Georgiana  Parsons,  1869. 

Treasurers  of  the  Church:  Until  1840,  the  Deacons. 
1840   to   1846,   William   Babson.     1846  to   1869,  the   Deacons. 


226  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

Miss  Sarah  H.  Corliss,  1869;  Miss  Lucy  W.  Davis,  1871;  Mrs. 
Maria  Dodge  Gibson,  1876;  Miss  Ada  E.  Davis,  1880;  Miss 
Annie  H.  Dolliver,  1883;  Miss  Carrie  A.  Procter,  1890. 

Deacons  of  the  Church  :  Isaac  Elwell,  1808,  died  1832  ; 
Payne  Elwell,  1808,  died  1820;  Cyrus  Stevens,  1820,  died  1838; 
Richard  Friend,  1832,  died  1849:  Samuel  Friend,  1838,  died 
1850;  George  Friend,  1842,  died  1872;  James  Davis,  1864; 
Theodore  Lane,  1873,  died  1885  ;  John  W.  Brown,  1880;  Wil- 
liam Tucker,  1889.  The  following  persons  have  also  officiated 
as  Deacons,  by  temporary  appointments :  William  Pearce, 
James  S.  Sayward,  Richard  G.  Stanwood,  William  Ferson, 
Benjamin  K.  Hough. 

Parish  Committees  : 

1785.  Capt.  Winthrop  Sargent,  Col.  Joseph  Foster,  John 
Somes. 

1786,  '87,  '88.     No  record. 

1789.     David  Plumer,  Epes  Sargent,  William  Pearce. 
J790,  '91.     No  record. 

1792.  Capt.  Winthrop  Sargent,  Col.  Joseph  Foster,  Capt. 
David  Pearce. 

1793.  John  Somes,  Epes  Sargent,  Benjamin  Hale. 

1794.  Isaac  Elwell,  William  Card,  David  Plumer. 

1795.  David  Plumer,  Col.  William  Pearce,  Caleb  Norwood,  jr. 

1796.  John  S.  Ellery,  David  Plumer,  Joseph  Allen,  Caleb 
Norwood,  jr. 

1797.  David  Plumer,  Col.  William  Pearce,  Caleb  Norwood, 
jr.,  Capt.  Isaac  Elwell. 

1798.  David  Plumer,  Capt.  Isaac  Elwell,  Capt.  Jeremiah 
Foster. 

1799.  Col.  William  Pearce,  Capt.  Joseph  Foster,  jr.,  Benja- 
min K.  Hough,  Thomas  Oakes. 

1800.  David  Plumer,  Capt.  Isaac  Elwell,  Joseph  Procter, 
John  Gott. 

1801.  Capt.  David  Pearce,  David  Plumer,  Capt.  Joseph  Fos- 
ter, jr.,  Capt.  James  Saville,  John  Gott. 

1802.  Maj.  Ignatius  Sargent,  Capt.  Isaac  Elwell,  Capt.  David 
Pearce,  Caleb  Norwood,  jr. 

1803.  Capt.  Isaac  Elwell,  Col.  William  Pearce,  Joseph  Allen, 
jr.,  Caleb  Norwood,  jr. 


APPENDIX.  227 

1804.  Benjamin    K.    Hough,    Col.   William    Pearce,   Joseph 
Allen,  jr..  Dr.  John  Manning. 

1805.  Col.  William  Pearce,  Benj.  K.  Hough,  Capt.  I.  Elwell, 
Dr.  John  Manning. 

1806.  Capt.   Isaac    Elwell,    Capt.    William    Pearce,    Jacob 
Hodgkins,  Maj.  Francis  Norwood. 

1807.  John  Mason,  Robert  Elwell,  John  Somes,  jr. 

1808.  Capt.  David  P.  Tarr,  Capt.  Samuel  Calder,  Eli  Stacy, 
Ebenezer  Oaks,  Nathaniel  Parsons. 

1809.  Col.   William    Pearce,   Benj.    K.    Hough,    Col.    James 
Tappan. 

1810.  John  Johnston,  William  Pearce,  jr.,  Israel  Trask. 

181 1.  WilHam  W.  Parrott,  David  P.  Tarr,  Addison  Plumer. 

1812.  John  Somes,  jr.,  Joseph  Procter,  Cyrus  Stevens. 

1813.  William  Saville,  John  Somes,  jr.,  Solomon  Pool. 

1814.  Capt.  Samuel   Calder,  John  Somes,  jr.,  William  Bab- 
son,  jr. 

1815.  John  Somes,  jr.,  Samuel  Elwell,  Robert  Elwell. 

1816.  '17,    '18,    '19.     John    Somes,  jr.,   William   W.    Parrott, 
Israel  Trask. 

1820.  John  Somes,  William  Person,  William  Babson,  jr. 

1821,  '22.     John  Mason, William  Babson,  jr.,  William  Pearce,  jr. 

1823.  John  Mason,  Samuel  Pearce,  William  Babson,  jr. 

1824.  William  Babson,  jr.,  William  Collins,  Samuel  Pearce. 

1825.  '26,  '27.     William  Babson,  jr.,  Samuel  Pearce,  William 
Stevens. 

1828.  Elias  Davison,  Abraham  Sawyer,  Samuel  Buckley. 

1829,  '30.     Abraham    Sawyer,  Dr.  William  Person,    Thomas 
Stephenson,  Esq. 

1 83 1.  Abraham  Sawyer,  William  Person,  Richard  Priend. 

1832.  Abraham  Sawyer,  Elias  Davison,  Richard  Friend. 
1833-     John  J.  Babson,  Richard  Priend,  Richard  G.  Stanwood. 

1834.  John  J.  Babson,  Samuel  Friend,  Frederick  G.  Low. 

1835.  Samuel  Friend,  Epes  W.  Merchant,  Eben  H.  Redding. 

1836.  Joseph  Stacy,  Epes  W.  Merchant,  William  Person. 

1837.  '38.     William  Person,  Joseph  Stacy,  Joseph  J.  Procter. 

1839.  William  Person,  John  Mason,  John  J.  Babson. 

1840.  William  Pearce,  jr.,  Samuel  W.  Brown,  Robert  Pears. 

1841.  '42.     Samuel  Jones,  Benjamin  K.  Hough, William  Person. 
1843,  '44.     Benjamin    K.    Hough,    William    Person,    Richard 

G.  Stanwood. 


228  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

1845.  Samuel  Friend,  Robert  Fears,  William  P.  Dolliver. 

1846.  William  P.  Dolliver,  Samuel  Friend,  Robert  Fears, 
Charles  Fitz,  George  Friend. 

1847.  William  P.  Dolliver,  Charles  Fitz,  Calvin  Putnam, 
Epes  W.  Merchant,  Samuel  Jones. 

1848.  Eben  H.  Stacy,  Gorham  Parsons,  Samuel  Jones. 

1849.  Eben  H.  Stacy,  George  Friend,  Richard  G.  Stan- 
wood,  jr. 

1850.  Benjamin  H.  Corliss,  Edward  Babson,  Simeon  Burnham. 

1 85 1.  Epes  W.  Merchant,  Edward  Babson,  James  L.  Bott. 

1852.  '53.  '54-  Charles  Fitz,  Richard  G.  Stanwood,  jr.,  Wil- 
liam P.  Dolliver, 

1855.  William  P.  Dolliver,  Frederick  G.  Low,  Epes  W. 
Merchant. 

1856.  Frederick  G.  Low,  George  W.  Plumer,  George  L. 
Ford. 

1857.  Thomas  J.  Foster,  George  L.  Ford,  Camden  C.  Davis. 

1858.  '59.     Thomas  J.  Foster,  George  L.  Ford,  George  Friend. 
i860.     Gorham  Parsons,  Robert  Fears,  Epes  W.  Merchant. 

1861.  George  Friend,  George  W.  Plumer,  Edward  Burnham. 

1862,  '6^.  Gorham  Parsons,  George  L.  Chesbro,  William  P. 
Dolliver. 

1864,  '65.     William  P.  Dolliver,  Robert  Fears,  Charles  Fitz. 

1866.  William  P.  Dolliver,  Charles  Fitz,  Charles  A.  Beckford. 

1867.  Edward  Babson,  Charles  A.  Beckford,  Robert  R. 
Fears,  WilHam  M.  Winchester,  Robert  A.  Tibbetts. 

1868.  '69.  Edward  Babson,  Robert  A.  Tibbetts,  Wm.  M. 
Winchester,  Josiah  O.  Friend,  jr.,  Robert  R.  Fears. 

1870.  Josiah  O.  Friend,  jr.,  Horatio  Babson,  jr.,  Thomas  J. 
Knowles,  James  L.  Shute,  Robert  R.  Fears. 

1871.  Horatio  Babson,  jr.,  Robert  R.  Fears,  James  L.  Shute. 

1872.  'y^j  '74-  Horatio  Babson,  John  Todd,  William  T. 
Merchant. 

1875,  '76,  '77i  '78.  George  Todd,  Charles  C.  Cressy,  Benja- 
min F.  Cook. 

1879,  '80,  '81.  George  Todd,  Benjamin  H.  Corliss,  Isaac  N. 
Story. 

1882.  Benjamin  H.  Corliss,  George  Todd,  Isaac  N.  Story, 
Edward  P.  Ring,  Fitz  J.  Babson,  jr. 

1883,  '84.  Francis  Procter,  Daniel  H.  Wallace,  Elias  P. 
Burnham,  Charles  S.  Tappan,  Fred  W.  Tibbetts. 


APPENDIX.  229 

1885.  Francis  Procter,  Daniel  H.  Wallace,  Elias  P.  Burn- 
ham,  Fred  W.  Tibbetts,  Thomas  J.  Knowles. 

1886,  '8j,  '88,  Francis  Procter,  Daniel  H.  Wallace,  Fitz  J. 
Babson,  jr. 

1889,  '90,  '91.  Daniel  H.  Wallace,  Fitz  J.  Babson,  jr.,  David 
R.  Frost. 

Auxiliary  Societies. 

"The  Ladies'  Sunday  School  Society,"  was  organized  in 
1852,  with  Mrs.  Francis  Chesbro,  President;  Miss  Caroline 
Mayo,  Secretary  ;  Miss  Georgiana  Parsons,  Treasurer.  In  the 
nearly  forty  years  of  its  existence  it  has  raised  in  various  ways 
and  expended  for  the  benefit  of  the  various  interests  of  the  par- 
ish, over  ^15,000.  Its  present  officers  are  :  Mrs.  Lucy  E.  Friend, 
President;  Miss  Lucy  P.  Burnham,  Secretary;  Miss  Marietta 
Davis,  Treasurer. 

"  The  Murray  Club,",  organized  as  a  social  and  literary  club, 
in  1881,  has  rendered  substantial  aid  to  the  parish,  having  paid 
into  its  treasury  about  Nine  Hundred  Dollars.  Its  present 
officers  are:  Charles  A.  Mason,  President;  Miss  Blanche  F. 
Sanford,  Secretary  ;  Herman  Lane,  Treasurer. 

Important  Special  Committees. 

1785.  To  answer  a  letter  received  from  the  Association 
organized  at  Oxford,  and  to  revise  the  Charter  of  Compact: 
Col.  Joseph  Foster,  David  Plumer,  Epes  Sargent. 

1788.  To  transact  the  Ceremonies  at  the  Ordination  of  Rev. 
John  Murray:  Capt.  Winthrop  Sargent,  David  Plumer,  Barnett 
Harkin. 

1795.  To  purchase  of  Capt.  Fitz  Wm.  Sargent  the  land  the 
Meeting  House  stands  on:  Col.  William  Pearce,  David  Plumer. 

1810.  To  keep  the  boys,  and  all  others  who  disturb  the  Soci- 
ety when  at  Public  Worship,  in  order :  Jonathan  Parsons,  jr., 
the  Sexton,  John  Mason,  David  Haraden,  jr.,  and  John  Johnston. 

1820.  To  consult  about  putting  stoves  in  the  Meeting  House  : 
Benjamin  K.  Hough,  William  W.  Parrott,  John  Johnston. 

1824.  To  arrange  for  the  observance  of  the  Semi-Centennial 
Anniversary  of  Rev.  John  Murray's  First  Preaching  in  Glou- 
cester: Col.  William  Pearce,  and  the  Pastor,  with  the  Parish 
Committee. 

1826.     To  obtain  consent  of  members   of   the  Society  to  be 


230  UN  I  VERBALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 

taxed   for  the  purchase  of  an  Organ:  William  Ferson,  Aaron 
Parsons,  Samuel  Bulkley. 

1826.  To  lay  out  the  Burial  Ground  into  proper  sections: 
Eli  Stacy,  John  Mason,  William  Saville. 

1837.  To  wait  upon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones,  and  ascertain  his 
views  on  the  settlement  of  a  Colleague  :  Benjamin  K.  Hough, 
Richard  Friend,  Capt.  William  Pearce,  jr. 

1838.  To  obtain  consent  of  Pew  Owners  to  contemplated 
alterations  in  Pulpit  and  pews  :  Samuel  Friend,  John  P.  Ober. 

1838.  To  apprize  the  Pews  preparatory  to  alterations: 
Moses  H.  Shaw,  William  Babson,  Benjamin  K.  Hough,  John 
J.  Babson,  Thomas  J.  Foster,  Joseph  Shepherd. 

1838.  To  superintend  the  alterations  of  Pulpit  and  Pews : 
Richard  G.  Stanwood,  jr.,  Frederick  G.  Low,  John  J.  Babson. 

1839.  To  make  alterations  of  the  Gallery  Pews :  John  Mason, 
Benjamin  K.  Hough,  jr.,  Richard  Friend,-jr. 

1841.  To  arrange  with  Rev.  Mr.  Jones  for  his  release  from 
Pastoral  duty  :  Benjamin  K.  Hough,  William  Collins,  Charles 
Fitz. 

1844.  To  seek  an  adjustment  with  the  Independent  Univer- 
salist  Society :  Robert  Fears,  Epes  W.  Merchant,  Gorham  Par- 
sons, William  P.  Dolliver,  Samuel  Friend. 

1844.  To  circulate  a  Bond  for  extinguishing  the  debt  of  the 
Society:  Benjamin  K.  Hough,  George  Friend,  Richard  G. 
Stanwood. 

1861.  To  assist  the  Parish  Committee  in  making  alterations 
in  Galleries  and  Vestibule :  Eben  H.  Stacy,  Edward  Babson. 

1868.  To  carry  into  effect  the  vote  of  the  Society  in  respect 
to  raising  the  Church,  furnishing  a  Vestry  under  it,  remodelling 
the  pews,  putting  the  Organ  and  Singers  behind  the  pulpit,  etc. : 
William  P.  Dolliver,  Robert  Fears,  Wm.  M.  Winchester,  Josiah 
O.  Friend,  jr.,  Fitz  J.  Babson,  James  L.  Shute. 

1870.  To  act  in  conjunction  with  the  Parish  Committee  in 
making  suitable  arrangements  for  the  reception  of  the  Cen- 
tenary Convention:  Benjamin  H.  Corliss,  Wm.  P.  Dolliver, 
James  Davis,  David  W.  Low,  John  Todd.  Charles  W.  Denni- 
son,  Leonard  A.  Burnham,  Wm.  M.  Winchester,  Eli  F.  Stacy, 
George  Friend,  jr.,  Benj.  F.  Cook. 

1874.     To  arrange  for  the  Celebration  of  the  Centennial  An- 


APPENDIX.  231 

niversary  of  Rev.  John  Murray's  First  Sermon  in  Gloucester: 
the  Parish  Committee  and  the  Pastor. 

Organists. 
Ann  Ross,  1826;  Charles  G.  Millett,  1829;  Miss  Clarissa 
Hayes,  1830;  Charles  G.  Millett,  1831 ;  Samuel  F.  Bulkley, 
1833;  Miss  Clarissa  Hayes,  1837;  Miss  Serena  P.  Dale,  1843; 
Edwin  Bruce,  1846;  Franklin  K.  Woodbury,  1847;  Miss  Caro- 
line E.  Hays,  1850;  Miss  Georgiana  Parsons,  1851;  George  B. 
Blake,  1856;  Miss  Clara  M.  Loring,  1858;  Miss  Carrie  M. 
Presson,  1864;  Miss  R.  L.  Tuckerman,  1880;  Everett  Steele, 
1882  ;  Miss  Grace  Caswell,  1884;  George  B.  Stevens,  1888. 

Sextons. 
John  Burnham,  1788;  Benjamin  Lufkin,  1790;  Gideon  Chal- 
lis,  1793;  David  Day,  1794:  James  S.  Sayward,  1806;  Jonathan 
Parsons,  1808;  Benjamin  Newman,  1814;  Jonathan  Parsons, 
4th,  1815;  William  Tucker,  1819;  John  and  Denmark  Procter, 
1822;  William  Long,  1829;  James  S.  Sayward,  1835;  Henry 
Staten,  1839;  Peter  J.  Hazel,  1850;  John  Davis,  1858;  Daniel 
Plumer,  1861  ;  Charles  H.  Brown,  1879;  William  Tucker, 
1885  ;  Isaac  P.  Morse,  1888. 


232  UNIVERSALISM    IN    GLOUCESTER. 


APPENDIX  Z. 


ADDENDA. 

In  the  immediately  preceding  pages,  the  list  of  Officials  in  the 
Parish,  Church  and  Sunday  School  has  been  brought  down  to 
the  close  of  the  year  1891,  and  it  has  been  deemed  advisable  to 
complete,  in  brief  words,  the  history  of  the  Parish  to  this  latter 
date.  As  in  the  Historical  Discourse,  this  will  be  done  here 
without  the  recital  of  details,  but  merely  in  the  way  of  general 
statement  in  regard  to  the  pastors  and  the  status  of  the  vital 
interests  of  the  church  at  the  time  of  putting  these  pages  to 
press. 

The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Eddy  closed  in  September,  1877.75  In 
January,  1879,  Rev.  Costello  Weston,  then  of  Bath,  Me.,  was 
called.  He  served  the  parish  acceptably  until  his  resignation, 
taking  effect  May  i,  1883.  During  his  pastorate,  a  heavy  debt, 
which  had  long  been  a  burden  to  the  parish,  was  reduced  by 
the  payment  of  $7,700  thereon.  The  one  hundredth  anniversary 
of  the  Dedication  of  the  first  House  of  Worship  occurred  dur- 
ing Mr.  Weston's  pastorate,  and  was  appropriately  observed, 
Sunday,  December  26,  i88o.76 

In  August,  1883,  Rev.  William  H.  Rider,  then  pastor  of  the 
Universalist  Church  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  was  invited  to  be 
pastor.  Accepting  the  invitation,  Mr.  Rider  was  installed  Oc- 
tober 3d,  of  that  year.  The  sermon  was  by  E.  C.  Bolles,  D.  D., 
of  Salem.  Hymns  for  the  occasion  were  written  by  Deacon 
James  Davis  and  Miss  Georgie  Parsons,  Clerk  of  the  Church. ~' 

■"5  His  subsequent  settlements  have  been  in  Akron,  Ohio;  Melrose,  Mass;  Prov- 
idence and  Georgiaville,  R.  I. 

■Jfi  After  leaving  Gloucester,  Mr.  Weston  resided  on  his  tarm  in  Mr.  Vernon,  Me., 
supplying  vacant  pulpits  as  opportunity  offered,  till  the  Spring  of  1888,  when  he 
became  the  Missionary  Agent  of  the  West  Fund  Trustees,  at  Halifax,  N.  S.  In 
September,  1890,  he  became  pastor  of  the  parish  at  Charlton,  Mass. 

''  Other  portions  of  the   service   were:    Introductory  Sentences  and  Invocation, 


APPENDIX.  233 

During  Mr.  Rider's  pastorate,  which  continues  to  the  present, 
prosperity  has  attended  the  parish  in  all  its  interests,  and  the 
church  property  has  been  greatly  improved  and  beautified  by 
alterations  securing  increased  accommodations  in  the  vestry, 
repairs  of  the  spire,  and  frescoing  the  ceiling  and  walls  of  the 
auditorium,  involving  an  expenditure  of  about  $4,200.  The  par- 
ish is  now  wholly  free  from  debt.  The  church  numbers  sev- 
enty-four members,  and  the  Sunday  School  four  hundred  and 
fifty  members. 

In  1876,  "The  Society  of  the  Lanesville  Universalist  Parish," 
representing  thirty-five  families,  was  organized.  A  church  edi- 
fice was  erected  in  1878,  costing  $5,000.  Its  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
B.  G.  Russell.  Subsequently  Rev.  George  Procter  had  charge  ; 
and  since  1889,  Rev.  George  W.  Penniman,  also  in  charge  at 
Annisquam,  has  been  the  pastor. 

In  1884,  a  parish  representing  thirty-four  families  was  organ- 
ized at  East  Gloucester;  also  a  Sunday  School  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-four  members.  Two  years  later,  a  church  of  fifteen 
members  was  organized,  and  a  church  edifice  costing  $7,000  was 
erected.  Heretofore  its  pulpit  has  mainly  been  supplied  by  the 
pastor  of  the  old  parish  and  by  non-resident  preachers ;  but  in 
December,  1891,  Rev.  E.  Fitzgerald  became  resident  pastor. 

At  the  present  time  there  are  five  Universalist  parishes  in  the 
territory  covered  by  the  city  of  Gloucester,  all  having  church 
edifices  and  settled  pastors.  Including  Rockport  and  Pigeon 
Cove,  which  were  originally  in  the  town  of  Gloucester,  there 
are  now  seven  Universalist  parishes,  all  owning  church  edifices 
and  having  settled  pastors,  in  the  territory  from  which  John 
Murray  gathered  his  congregation  in  1774.  In  a  population  of 
less  than  thirty  thousand,  this  fact  is  without  a  parallel  in  the 
history  of  the  Universalist  Church. 

Rev.  W.  S.  Preble,  of  Beverly;  Scripture  Reading,  Rev.  J.  S.  Thompson  (Unita- 
rian), of  Gloucester;  Prayer  of  Installation,  Prest.  E.  H.Capen,  D.  D.,  of  Tufts 
College;  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship,  Rev.  J.  Coleman  Adams,  of  Lynn;  Address 
to  the  Society,  R.  Eddy,  D.  D.,  of  Melrose;  Welcome  Address,  Benj.  H. 
Corliss,  Esq. 


NDEX. 


Abel,  Rev.  Townsend  P.,  62 
Act  of  Incorporation,  31,  198 
Adams,  Rev.  John  Coleman, 

233 
— Rev.  John  G.,  62 
— &  Chapin's  Hymn  Book,  49 
Addenda,  232 
Agreement   to   be  taxed  for 

Support  of  Mr.  Murray, 

194 
Allen,  Jacob,  no 
— John,  187,  195,  198 
— Joseph, 226 
— Joseph,  jr.,  198, 226,  227 
— Winthrop,  130,  156,  194,  198 
Andrews,  William  Tarr,  195 
Annisquam    Parish,   50,    51, 

57,  233 
"  Answer  to  An  Appeal,"  26, 

157 
"  Anti-Universalist,  The,"  57 
"Appeal,  An,"  26,  133 
Appendix,  105-233 
Arnold,  Rev.  A.  C.  L.,  39 
"  Articles    of    Association," 

19,  154 
— of  Faith,  209,  215 
Association  at  Oxford,  27 
Atkinson,    Rev.    Joseph    P., 

56,98 
Austin,  Rev.  John  M.,  59 
Auxilliary  Societies,  229 

Babbitt,  Thomas,  187,  195 


Babson,  Albert  P.,  225 

— Anne,  19,  in 

— David,  202 

— Edward,  228,  230 

— Fitz  J.,  230 

— Fitz  J.,  jr.,  228,  229 

— Horatio,  jr.,  228 

— James,  130,  188 

— John,  106 

—John  J.,    15,   132,  221,  227, 

230 
— Joseph,  203 
— Rebekah,  156 
— Solomon,  130,  156,  195,  198 
— WiUiam,  jr.,  54, 225, 227, 230 
— William,  [son  of  William, 

jr.]  221,  225 
Baker,  Joseph,  188,  198,  202 
— Thomas,  221 
Ball,  Hannah,  156,  211 
— Isaac,  130,  156 
Ballou,  Rev.   Hosea,   34,  35, 

59,  62,  121,  189,  221 
— Rev.    Hosea,    2d.,    49,   54, 

59,  224 
Barns,  Lucy,  123 
— Rev.  Thomas,  34,  35,  121 
Bartlett,  Rev.  Joseph  A.,  52 
Baty,  William,  198 
Beckford,  Charles  A.,  228 
Beecher,  Lyman,  D.  D.,  79 
Belding,  Rev.  Henry,  56 
Bell,  Long  Service  of,  47 
Bennett,  Francis,  jr.,  221 


235 


236 


INDEX. 


Bennett,  Isaac,  130,  156 

— Moses,  156 

— Nathaniel,  187 

Benton,  Rev.  F.  A.,  52 

Bill  of  Rights,  22,  152 

Blake,  George  B.,  231 

— James,  187,  195 

Bolles,  E.  C,  D.  D.,  232 

Boston  Society  requests  ser- 
vices of  Mr.  Murray,  195 

—Society,  Mr.  Murray  set- 
tled over,  33 

— Sunday-school,  221 

Bott,  James  L.,  228 

Boys,  provision  for  keeping 
them  in  order  in  church, 
46 

Bradbury,  Hon.  Theophilus, 
24 

Brimblecome,  Rev.    Samuel, 

59 
Broadside  published  by  Mr. 

Murray,  26,  177 
Brooks,  Rev.  E.  G.,  62 
Broom,  James,  130 
Brown,  Abraham,  187 
— Charles  H.,  231 
— Ephraim,  195 
— John  W.,  226 
— Jonathan,  187,  195 
— Jonathan,  3d,  202 
— Samuel  W.,  227 
— Stephen,  195,  202 
Bruce,  Edwin,  231 
Buckley,  Samuel,  227 
— Samuel  F.,  231 
Bulkley,  Samuel,  230 
Burial  Ground,  40 
Burnham,  Edward,  228 
— Elias  P.,  228 


Burnham,  John,  231 
— Leonard  A.,  225,  230 
—Lucy  P.,  229 
— Simeon,  228 

Calder,  Samuel,  202,  227 
Candles  used  for  lighting  the 

Meeting  House,  48 
Capen,    Rev.    Elmer   H.,  68, 

69,  97,  233 
Card,  William,  106,  130,  188, 

195,  198,  226 
Caswell,  Grace,  231 
Centennial     Celebration     in 

1870,  70,  230 
—Celebration  in  1874,  230 
^Celebration  in  1880,  232 
Challis,  Gideon,  188,  195,  231 
Chambre,  Rev.  A.  St.  John, 

68,69 
Chandeliers,  48 
Chandler,    Rev.    Samuel,  12, 

159,  178 

Chapin,  Rev.  E.  H.,  62 

—Rev.  J.  H.  69 

Charter  of  Compact,  27,  185 

Chesbro,  Mrs.  Francis  229 

— George  L.,  228 

Children,  Mr.  Jones'  Ser- 
mons to,  53 

Church  Organization,  49,  208- 
215,  225,  233 

Clark,  Rev.  Benjamin  H.,  52 

— Rev.  C.  C,  79 

Clerks  of  the  Society,  225 

— of  the  Church,  225 

Cleveland,  Rev.  John,  16 

Clock,  when  placed  in  the 
Church,  47 

Close,  John,  202 


INDEX. 


237 


Coas,  William,  no 

Coffin,  Rev.  E.  W.,  52 

— Rev.  Michael,  35,  126 

— Peter,  no 

Collins,  Daniel,  203 

— Eben  H.,  203 

— William,  54,  227,  230 

Columbia  Centinal's  account 

of    Dedication   of    New 

Meeting  House,  45 
Committee  of  Safety,  17 
Convention,  General,  session 

of  in  1870,  70 
Cook,  Benjamin  F.,  228,  230 
— Jemima,  19,  iii,  156 
Corliss,  Benjamin  H.,  99, 221, 

225,  228,  230,  233 
— John,  204,  225 
— Sarah  H.,  226 
Creighton,  George,  106,  156 
Cressy,  Charles  C,  225,  228 
Grossman,  Edward,  156 
Crosswell,  Rev.  Andrew,  12 
Cummings,  Henry,  221 
Gushing,  Zenas,  203 

Dale,  Dr.  Eben,  221 

— Serena  P.,  231 

Dalton,  Gloster,  188 

Dana,  Hon.  Francis,  24,  26 

Davis,  Ada  E.,  226 

— Camden  C,  228 

— Elias,  203 

— James,   vi,   221,    226,    230, 

232 
— John,  106 
—John,  231 
— Lucy  W.,  226 
— Marietta,  229 
Davison,  Elias,  227 


Day,  David,  211,  231 

— Lucy,  211 

Deacons  of  the  Church,  50, 

212 
Dean,  Rev.  Paul,  54,  55,  221, 

222 
Dedication   of   Children,  49, 

205 
— of  First  Meeting  House,  20 
— of  Second  Meeting  House, 

44,69 
Dennis,  John,  202 
Dennison,  Charles  W.,  230 
Dexter,  William,  202 
Divine    Revelation,    Society 

in  Defence  of,  72 
Dodge,  Benjamin,  203 
— Jonathan,  202 
Dolliver,  Abigail,  156,  211 
— Annie  H.,  226 
— Edward,  221,  225 
—Peter,  130,  188 
— William,  130,  156,  194,  202, 

203,  208 
— William  P.,  228,  230 
Doyle,  William,  187 
Duley,  Sarah  G.,  viii 

East  Gloucester  Parish,  233 
Eddy,  Rev.  Richard,  70,  232, 

233 
Ellery,  Esther,  156 
— John  Stevens,  106,  130,  156, 

188,  194,  198,  225,  226 
— Nathaniel,  106 
— William,  no 
Elwell,    Isaac,  20,    187,    194, 

198,   202,    203,   208,   211, 

212,  226,  227 
— Isaac,  jr.,  130,  202 


238 


INDEX. 


Elwell,  Payne,   50,  208,   212, 

226 
— Robert,  227 
— Samuel,  227 
— Tammy,  211 
Everden,    Joseph,    156,    187, 

195,  202 
Everett,  Rev.  L.  S.,  62 
Evidences    of     Christianity, 

Lectures  on,  72 
Expenses  of  Exchanges  paid 

by  the  Parish,  197 

Farnsworth,    Rev.    Thomas 

G.,  54,  80,  224 
Fears,  Robert,  227,  228,  230 
— Robert  R.,  225,  228 
Ferson,  Dr.  William,  53,  203, 

221,  226,  227,  229 
First   Parish,    13,   15,  21,  23, 

24,  130 
— Parish  Church,  19,  in,  116 
Fitz,  Charles,  228,  230 
— Moses,  198 
Fitz  Gerald,  Rev.  E.,  233 
Flagg,  Rev.  Joshua,  35,  128 
Folsom,  Sarah,  211 
Fobes,  Rev.  Perez,  50 
Forbes,  Rev.  Eli,  15,  105,  in 
Ford,  George  L.,  225,  228 
Foster,  Jeremiah,  187, 195,  226 
—Rev.  John,  35,  126 
— Joseph,  21,40,  131,  156, 188, 

194,  198,202,203,226,229 
— Joseph,  jr.,  188,  194,  226 
— Lydia,  156 
— Nathaniel,  130 
— Thomas,  187,  194,  198 
— Thomas  J.,  228,  230 
Friend,  George,  226,  228,  230 


Friend,  George,  jr.,  230 
— Joseph,  61 
— Josiah  O.,  jr.,  228,  230 
—Mrs.  Lucy  E.,  229 
—Richard,  58,  226,  227,  230 
—Richard,  jr.,  61,  230 
—Samuel,   48,  226,  227,  228, 

230 
Frost,  David  R.,  229 
Fuller,  Rev.  Daniel,  55 
— Rev.  Zelotes,  54,  223 

Gaffney,  Michael,  187,  202 
Galaca,  Rev.  Charles,  56 
Galleries,      Provisions       for 

keeping   boys   and  girls 

still  in,  46,  229 
Gammage,  Joshua,  187 
Gardner,  Rev.  Calvin.  55 
I      — Coas,  188,  195 
Gates,  Lemuel,  198 
Gee,  William,  188,  195,  198 
Gibson,  Maria  Dodge,  226 
Giddings,  Daniel,  130 
—Mr.  [Quaker],  132 
"Gleaner,  The,"  190 
Gleason,  Benjamin,  36,  128 
Gloucester,  10,  n,  14,  18 
— Wealth  of  Universalists  in, 

in  1793,  33 
Gott,  Ebenezer,  187,  198 
— John,  187,  198,  226 
Greene,  Gen.  Nathaniel,  18 
Griswold,  Right  Rev.  Bp.  A. 

v.,  72 
Gunnison,  Rev.  N.,  52 

Hale,    Benjamin,     188.    195, 

198,  226 
—John,  no 


INDEX. 


239 


Hales,  Samuel,  21 

—William,  188,  195 

Hall,  Aaron,  198 

Haraden,  David,  202,  211 

— David,  jr.,  202,  229 

— Hannah,  211 

Harkin,  Barnett,  29,  188,  195, 

198,  225,  229 
— Hannah,  211 
Harriman,  Rev.  John,  52 
Harris,  James,  187 
Haskell,  Elizabeth,  156 
— Henry  C.  L.,  vii 
— Deacon  Hubbard,  no 
— Deacon  Nathaniel,  no 
— Philemon.  21,  106,  130,  156, 

188,  194 
Hays,  Caroline  E.,  231 
Hayes,  Clarissa,  231 
Hazel,  Peter  J.,  231 
Henderson,  Joseph,  203 
Herrick,  Joseph,  130,  194,  198 
— Josiah,  203 
Historical  Discourse,  9-78 
Hodgkins,  Jacob,  202,  227 
Hooper,  Rev.  William,  52,56 
Hough,  Ann,  211 
—Benjamin    K.,   53,   58,   99, 

19I)    195?    1985   202,   203, 

215,225,226,  227,  229,  230 
— Benjamin  K.,  jr.,  221 
— Ebenezer,  136,  195 
— Mary,  136 
Hubbard,  John  R.,  203 
Hutchins,  William,  195 
Hymn   Books    used    by   the 

Society,  21,  49,  204 

Important   Special   Commit- 
tees, 229 


Independent  Church  of 
Christ,  Articles  of  Asso- 
ciation, 154 

— Christian  Church,  Act  of 
Incorporation,  198 

— Christian  Church  [Commu- 
nicants] 49,  208-215 

— Universalist  Society,  60,  61 

Ingersol,  Hannah,  211 

— Rebekah,  136 

Instrumental  Music,  First 
Use  of  in  New  Meeting 
House,  48 

Ireland,  Tnomas,  48 

Johnston,  John,  202,  227,  229 
Jones,  Rev.  Thomas,  36,  37, 
38,  42,  44,  49,  50,  52,  53, 
56,  58,  59,  61,  62,  64,  71, 
74,  196,  197,  200,  203,  208- 
215,  225 
— Samuel,  227,  228 
— Sophia,  48,  61,  211 
Jordan,  James,  106,  130 
— Jerusha,  156 

Killam,  Rev.  Robert  L.,  56 
King,  Hon.  Rufus,  24 
— Rev.  Thomas  F.,  59 
Kingman,  WiUiam,  203 
Knight,  Job,  187 
Knowles,  Thomas  J.,  228,229 

Ladies   Sunday   School    So- 
ciety, 229 
Lane,  Herman,  229 
— Isaac,  130 
— Samuel,  188,  195 
— Susanna,  156 
— Theodore,  226 


240 


INDEX. 


Lane,  Theophilus,  130 
Lanesville  Parish,  233 
Lathe,  Rev.   Zephaniah,    34, 

35,  124 
Leach,  Rev.  George  C,  52 
Lee,  Downing,  187 
Leonard,  Rev.  Charles  H.,  69 
—Rev.   Ezra,   50,  51,  54,  56, 

223 
— Rev.  Henry  C,  s^,  58,  59 
Liberal  Institute,  59 
Liberty  Hall,  56 
Lincoln,  Ebed,  203 
Long,  William,  231 
Loring,  Clara  M.,  231 
Low,  David  W.,  230 
— Elizabeth,  211 
— Francis,  187,  194,  198 
— Frederick  G.,  227,  228,  230 
— John,  no,  202 
—John,  3d,  187,  194,  198 
—Jonathan,  187, 195,  198,  202, 

203 
Lufkin,  Aaron,  130,  156,  187, 

195 
—Benjamin,    156,    187,    195, 

198,  231 
—Joseph,  156,  187 
— Joseph,  jr.,  195 
— Samuel,  195 
— Sarah,  156 
— Zebulon,  130 

Mace,  Rev.  Fayette,  39 
Mackay,  Andrew,  202 
Manning,  Dr.  John,  227 
Mansfield,    Rev.    Isaac,    34, 

124 
— James,  202 

Marchant,  Daniel,  jr.,  198 
Marshall,  Benjamin,  198 


Marshall,  Samuel,  188 

Mason,  Charles  A.,  229 

— John,  202,  227,  229,  230 

— Thomas,  187,  195 

— Triphene,  211 

Mayo,   Rev.  Amory    D.,   56, 

63,  64,  6s,  66,  88 
— Miss  Caroline,  229 
—Mrs.  S.  C.  E.,  56,  64 
McKean,  John,  106 
Mellen,  Rev.  W.  R.  G.,  66, 

67,95 
Mellings,  Susanna,  156 
Meeting  House  buih  in  1780, 

20,  35,  42 
—  House   built  in  1805-6,  39, 

40,  42,  44,  45,  48,  59,  69 
Merchant,  Epes  W.,  227,  228 
—William  T.,  228 
Millen,  James,  130 
Millett,  Charles  G.,[23i 
— James,  11 1 
— Judith,  221 
Miner,  A.  A.,  D.  D.,  68 
Ministerial   Helpers   of    the 

Society,  20,  118 
Minot,  Christopher,  195 
Missionary     Society    Agent 

attacks  Universalism,  57, 

58 
Mitchell,  Rev.  James  Ure,ioi 
Moore,  Joseph,  188,  202,  211 
— Hannah,  211 
— Thomas,  195 
Morgan,  Samuel,  187,  195 
— William,  106 
Morhead,  Samuel,  188,  195 
Morse,   Humphrey,   188,  195 
—Isaac  P.,  231 
— Lydia,  211 


INDEX. 


241 


Murphy,    William,     21,    187, 

194,  198 
Murray  Club,  229 
— Institute,  59 
—Rev.  B.  B.,  39 
— Rev.  John,  10-19,  23,  24,  26, 

28,  29,  30-37,  44,  49,  53, 

107,    156,    177,   191,   200, 

205,  215 
— Mrs.  Judith,  29,  156,  189 
— Rev.  Noah,  36,  128 

Newell,  Rev.  Maxcy  B.,  52, 

62 
Newman,  Benjamin,  231 
Norwood,  Rev.  Abraham,  51 
— Caleb,  187,  19s,  198,  211 
— Mrs.  Caleb,  211 
—Caleb,  jr.,  187,  195,  226 
— Francis,  187,  198,  227 
—John,  187,  195,  198 
— Stephen,  187,  195 

Oakes,  Ebenezer,  227 

— Thomas,  195,  226 

Ober,  John  P.,  230 

Odell,  James,  106 

Officers  of  the    Society  and 

Church,  225 
Ollive,  Ann,  156 
Ordination  and  Reordination 

of  Mr.  Murray,  28,  29 
Organs  used  by  the  Society, 

21,35,48 
Organists,  231 
Oxford  Association,  27 

Page,  John,  196 

Paige,  Rev.  Lucius  R.,  39 

Paine,  Rev.  Ebenezer,  35,  127 


Palfrey,  Nabby,  156 
Parish  Committees,  226-229 
Park,  Nathan,  203,  227 
Parker,  Rev.  Noah,  20,  120 
Parrott,  William  W.,  227,229 
Parsons,  Aaron,  230 
— Ebenezer,  19,  106,  130 
— Georgiana,    225,   229,   231, 

232 
— Gorham,  228,  230 
— Jacob,  no 
— Jemima,  19,  iii,  156 
— Jonathan,  jr.,  229 
— Jonathan,  4th,  231 
— Lydia,  156 
— Nathaniel,  227 
— Phebe,  112 
— Philemon,  106 
— Rebecca,  19,  156 
— Theophilus,  Esq.,  24 
Partridge,  Rev.  Emmons,  52 
Patrick,  James,  202 
Pearce,  Clara  Sargent,  49 
— David,   19,  21,  23,  31,  106, 

III,    130,    131,    156,    188, 

198,  208,  211,  226 
— Elizabeth,  211 
— Samuel,  54,  227 
— Thomazine,  211 
— William,  21,  23,  39,  40,  41, 

42,  53,  156,  187,  195,  198, 

202,  203,   204,    208,   211, 
212,  224,  225,226,227,229 

— William,   jr.,    49,   58,   202, 

203,  227,  230 
Penniman,  Rev.  George  W., 

233 
Pew,  Richard,  188 
— William,  195 
Pew-seats,  Noise  made  by,  46 


242 


INDEX. 


Phelps,  Henr}^  198 
Philadelphia    Convention   in 

— First  Sunday-school  organ- 
ized in,  221 

— Church  makes  a  liberal 
offer  to   Mr.  Murray,  34 

Plumb,  Rev.  David  H.,  61 

Plumer,  Addison,  227 

— Daniel,  231 

— David,  20,  29,  130,  156, 188, 
195,  198,  226,  229 

— Eben,  202 

— Elizabeth,  156 

— George  W.,  221,  228 

— Joshua,  131 

— Mary,  202 

— Samuel,  no 

Pool,  Caleb,  187,  195,  198 

— David,  187,  195 

— Ebenezer,  187,  195,  198 

— Francis,  187,  195 

—John,  188 

— Nathan,  187,  198 

— Solomon,  227 

Porter,  Rev.  Charles  S.,  79 

—  _ames,  no 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  Society 

in,    solicits    services   of 
Rev.  Mr.  Jones,  196 
Powers,  Rev.  J.  F.,  68 
Preble,  Rev.  W.  S.,  233 
Prentiss,  James,  156 
— James  [of  Boston],  196 

—  [or   Prentice],    Lydia,    19, 

III,  156,  211 
Presson,  Carrie  M.,  231 
— William,  jr.,  203 
Proctor,  Carrie  A.,  226 
— Daniel  E.,  198,  202 


Proctor,  Elizabeth,  211 

— Denmark,  48,  231 

— Francis,  228 

— Rev.  George,  233 

—John,  48,  231 

— Joseph,  195,   198,  202,   226, 

227 
— Joseph  J.,  227 
Putnam,  Calvin,  228 

Record,  Rev.  Lewis  L.,  52 
Redding,  Eben  H.,  227 
Relly,  Rev.  James,  12 
— Rev.    Messrs.   James    and 

John,  Hymn  Book  of,  21 

129 
Rhode  Island  Brigade,  Rev. 

John    Murray   Chaplain 

of,  14 
Richards,   Rev.    George,  35, 

37,  126,  196,  221 
Rider,  Rev.  William  H.,   232 
Ring,  Edward  P.,  225,  228 
Roberts,  Ephraim,  187 
Rockport,  See  Sandy  Bay. 
Rogers,  Charles,  203 
— Daniel,  jr.,  202,  203 
—John,  203 
— William,  202,  203 
Root,  Rev.  Isaac,  36,  128 
Ross,  Ann,  231 
Row,  Abraham,  no,  187 
Russ,   Rev.    Benjamin  K.,  68 
Russell,  Rev.  B.  G.,  233 
Rust,  Sarah,  211 

Salary  to  Mr.  Murray,  30 
Sanders,  Anna,  156 
— Bradbury,  21,  106,  130,   156 
— Nancy,  130 


INDEX. 


Sandy  Bay,  Universalists  at, 

38,39 
Sanford,  Blanche  F.,  229 
Sanger,  Rev.  George  J.,  61 
Sargent,  Aaron,  198 
— Catharine,  19,  iii,  156 
— Daniel,  130 
—David,  187,  195,  198 
— Epes,   19,  21,  23,    26,   106, 

III,    130,    188,    194,    198, 

225,  226,  229 
— Fitz  William,  202 
— Ignatius,  226 
— John  Osborne,  194 
—Judith.     See  Murray,  Mrs. 

Judith 
— Mary,  156 
— Nathaniel,  187,  194 
— William,  106,  130,  229 
— Winthrop,  12,  13,  19,20,23, 

29»  3I5  3^5  106,  no.  III, 

130,    131,    156,    188,    194, 

198,  226,  229 
—Winthrop,  jr.,  130 
Saunders,  James,  188,  195 
— Joseph,  188,  195 
— Nancy,  19,  in,  130 
Saville,  James,  226 
— Jesse,  188 
— William,  49,   202,  204,  225, 

227,  230 
Sawyer,    Abraham,    21,    106, 

130,   156,    188,    195,    198, 

208,  211,  227 
—Mrs.  Abraham,  211 
—Abraham,  Jr.,  21,  187,  195, 

198,  202 
— James,  198 
— James,  3d,  188,  195 
Say  ward,  Henry,  202 


243 

Sayward,  James  S.,   202,  226, 
231 

—Samuel,  21,  106,   130,  156, 
187 

— Susa,  136 

School  Street  Choir,  Boston, 
Concert  by,  48 

Second  Parish,  55 

Semi-Centennial  Anniver- 
sary, 53-55,  222 

Sewall,  Hon.  David,  24 

Sextons,  231 

Shaw,  Moses  H.,  230 

Shepherd,  Joseph,  230 

Shute,  James  L.,  228,  230 

— Samuel  M.,  225 

Skinner,  Rev.  George  W.,  (i-], 
(^%,  225 

—Rev.  Otis  A.,  59,  62 

Smith,  Rev.  Daniel  D.,  58, 
59,  60,  215 

— Rev.  Gibson,  39 

— Jacob,  42,  202,  203 

— John,  no 

— Rebecca,  19,  in,  156 

—Rev.  Matthew  Hale,  58 

Snelling,  Josiah,  196 

Somes,  Benjamin  F.,  225 

—John,  21,  39,  41,  130,  131, 
156,  188,  194,  198,  202, 
208,  225,  226,  227 

— John,  jr.,  202,  227 

— John,  3d,  202 

Soule,  Rev.  Henry  B.,  ^^ 

Sparling,  Thomas,  156 

Spear,  Rev.  Charles,  39,  59 
—Rev.  John  M.,  56 

Stacy,  Benjamin,  46 
— Eben  H.,  228,  230 
— Eli,  202,  203,  227,  230 


244 


INDEX. 


Stacy,  Eli  F.,  230 

— John,  202 

— Joseph,  227 

Stanwood,  Richard   G.,   226, 

227,  228,  230 
— Richard  G.,  jr.,  228,  230 
— Susannah,  211 
Staten,  Henry,  231 
Steele,  Everett,  231 
— James,  188 
— Mary,  156 
— Rev.  Joel,  79 
Stephenson,  Thomas,  227 
Stevens,  Cyrus,  202,  226,  227 
— George  B.,  231 
— John,  no,  130 
— John,  jr.,   106,  156,  188,  189 
—Mrs.  Judith.     See  Murray, 

Mrs.  Judith 
— William,  227 
— Zach.,  203 
Stickney,    Rev.   William  A., 

56 
Stiles,  Ezra,  D.  D.,  16,    162^ 

181 
Stoddet,  Jonathan,  196 
Story,  Isaac  N.,  228 
Stoves,   First  use  of  in  the 

Meeting  House,  47 
Streeter,  Rev.  Adams,  20, 120 
— Rev.  Barzillia,  54,  223 
— Rev.  Sebastian,  54,  223 
Strickland,  Rev.  Geo.  G.,   56 
Sullivan,  Hon.  James,  24 
Sumner,  Hon.  Increase,  24 
Sunday  School,  53,  221,  233 

Tappan,  Charles  S.,  228 

— James,  202,  227 

Tarbox,   Benjamin,    195,  198 


Tarbox,  Sally,  202 

Tarr,   Benjamin,  jr.,  187,  195 

— Benjamin,  4th,  203 

— David  P.,  202,  227 

— Robert,  203 

Thayer,  Rev.  Frederic  F.,  62 

63,82 
— Rev.  Thomas  B.,  62 
Theodosia,  English  barque. 

Wreck  of,  42 
Thompson,  Rev.  J.  S.,  233 
Third  Parish,  50 
Tibbetts,  Fred  W.,  228 
—Robert  A.,  228 
Titles   of   the    Organization, 

225 
Thurston,  Daniel,  no 
Todd,  George,  228 
— John,  228,  230 
Townsend,   Shippie,  20,  119, 

196 
Tracy,  John,  26 
Trask,  Abigail,  156,  211 
— Isaac,  187 

— Israel,  40,  156,  187,  202,227 
— Jonathan,     130,     156,    188, 

195 
Treasurers  of  the  Society,  225 
— of  the  Church,  225 
Trees  in  Church  Yard,  41 
Trew,  Daniel,  195 
Trull,  Rev.  Elbridge,  52 
Tucker,  Hannah,  19,  in,  156, 

211 
—John,  42,  203 
— WiUiam,  226,  231 
Tuckerman,  R.  L.,  231 
Tudor,  William,  Esq.,  24 
Tuller,  Rev.  J.  H.,  52 


INDEX. 


245 


Turner,    Rev.    Edward,    35, 

36,  127 
Tyler,  Rev.  John,  20,  118 
Tyrian  Lodge,  F.  A.  M.,  42, 

203 

Universalists  of   Gloucester, 

Their  Secret,  132 
Universalist      Societies      in 

Gloucester,  50,  55,  60, 233 
Usher,  Rev.  James  M.,  56 

Vacations  provided    for  by 

the  Parish,  197 
Vestry,    Old,    Original    Size 

and  Uses,  47 
— New,  in  Murray  Institute, 

59 
—Made     by     Raising     the 
Meeting  House,  69 

Wallace,  Daniel  H.,  228,  229 
War  of   1812,  Effects  of,  on 

the  Society,  52 
Warner,  Nath'l,  203 
Watson,  Robert,  195 


Webber,  Benjamin,  106 
—Mrs.  Harriett,  36 
Webster,  Joshua,  188 
West  Parish,  55,  56 
Weston,  Rev.  Costello,  232 
— Robert,  156 
Whipple,  Job,  188 
Whittemore,  Samuel,  no 
— Rev.  Thomas,  54,  222 
Wier,  H.,  188 
Williams,  Abraham,  202 
Willis,  Rev.  John  H.,  52,  68 
Wilson,  Jesse,  203 
Winchester,    Rev.   Elhanan, 

20,  120 
—Rev.  Hubbard  H.,  54,  223 
— Rev.  Moses,  20,  121 
—William  M.,  228,  230 
Wonson,  Samuel,  198 
— Samuel,  jr.,  198 
Woodberry,  Joshua,  203 
Woodbury,  Franklin  K.,  231 
Wright,   Rev.    Matthew,   20, 

34,  118 
Worth,  Ignatius,  senior,   106 


CK-o 


f_aLy.  .14^    Irtl  im 


f 


O         } 


9      _>,  . 


0. 


*    ^ 


ju  h^   ^h 


li  a 


/  Ij;^  uXi  Caa^-^-?    i^  'i^r  -     I    /  3  c? 


